Judge Delivers Blow To Trump's Plan Threatening SNAP Funding

Donald Trump‘s effort to restrict funding for SNAP has hit a roadblock. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to withhold federal funds from states unless they comply with Trump policies. The policies at the center of the discussion specifically focus on immigration enforcement, transgender laws and various other civil rights issues. While he has now ruled in favor of the states, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun said he will explain his reason another time, Reuters reported.

What are Democrats saying about the court ruling against Trump’s effort to restrict SNAP?

Judge Joun’s ruling delivered a pivotal victory for 20 states and the District of Columbia, which were seeking a preliminary injunction. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is among those expressing relief after the latest ruling.

“These grants are a lifeline — I’ll always fight to protect food assistance for families,” Campbell said on social media, per Reuters.

Campbell and many other Democrats said a large number of low-income families would struggle to afford food without SNAP, as USDA provides more than $74 billion every year to the states.

What is the Trump administration’s requirement for states to qualify for SNAP funding?

The Trump administration continues to pressure the states while aiming to pass a series of laws restricting the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ people and other underserved demographics. While the USDA says states must comply with Trump’s federal policies to get funding for SNAP, opponents say the requirements are still unclear, Fox 32 Chicago reported.

In their lawsuit against the USDA, the states said the department has “thrown unconstitutional and unlawful roadblocks between the programs created by Congress and the States that rely on them, threatening critical nutrition support, vital agricultural research, and the safety of our national food chain and communities.”

According to Fox 32, at least 39 million Americans rely on SNAP to be able to afford groceries.