Trump administration demands states ‘undo’ full SNAP payouts as states warn of ‘catastrophic impact’

By SCOTT BAUER and NICHOLAS RICCARDI President Donald Trump s administration is demanding states undo full SNAP benefits paid out under judges orders last week now that the U S Supreme Court has stayed those rulings marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger initiative used by million Americans The demand from the U S Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of catastrophic operational disruptions if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court s stay Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the venture in November They won the favorable rulings last week leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states But even before it won a stay on those rulings through an appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday night the Trump administration balked at reimbursing states for the initial round of SNAP payments Wisconsin for example loaded benefits onto cards for residents but after the U S Treasury froze its reimbursements to the state it anticipates running out of money by Monday Democratic Gov Tony Evers administration warned in a lengthy declaration on Sunday The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal declares the states warned States could face demands to return hundreds of millions of dollars in the aggregate the filing at the st Circuit Court of Appeals says That situation would threat catastrophic operational disruptions for the States with a consequent cascade of harms for their residents the filing concludes That filing arrived as the Department of Agriculture on Saturday notified states it would now consider any payments made last week to be unauthorized To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November this was unauthorized Patrick Penn deputy undersecretary of Agriculture wrote to state SNAP directors Accordingly States must directly undo any measures taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November Evers issued a quick response to the Trump administration s demand No the governor reported in a announcement Pursuant to and consistent with an advancing court order Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards ensuring nearly Wisconsinites including nearly kids had access to basic food and groceries Evers noted After we did so the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would complete the processes necessary to make funds available They have failed to do so to date