Michigan’s attorney general sues over SNAP benefits

Stateandlocalofficialsarepleadingwithpolicymakerstofindawaytofundfoodassistanceinthewakeofthefederalgovernmentshutdown.  That’sastheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureistellingstatestopauseSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram,orSNAP,paymentsnextmonth.Thedepartmentclaimsthere’snotenoughmoneyavailabletocoverbenefits.  MichiganAttorneyGeneralDanaNesselsaidthat’salie.She,alongwithotherDemocraticstateattorneysgeneral,are suing theUSDA.  Nesselsaidthefederalgovernmenthasemergencyfundssetasideforthisscenariothatitshouldbeusing.  “ThereisnoreasonforpeoplewhoareeligibletoreceiveSNAPbenefitstonotreceiveit.Thatistheexactreasonforthiscontingencyfund.Andso,IthinkthattheTrumpadministrationisplayingwithpeople’sliveshere,”NesselsaidduringapressconferenceinLansingWednesday.  Accordingtothelawsuit,Congresssetaside$3billionin2024,andanother$3billionthisyearfor,“suchtimesasmaybecomenecessarytocarryoutprogramoperations.”  TheUSDA,h