Attorney General Jeff Jackson sues USDA
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Management and Budget for refusing to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown.
According to a press release, Jackson says they’re withholding food assistance for 1.4 million North Carolinians. This includes nearly 600,000 children, more than 40,000 of whom are under 18 months old.
This would be the first time very that SNAP benefits have been delayed. The press release goes on to say that the USDA has at least $6 billion in contingency funds from Congress to use in emergencies such as this one.
“Nearly 600,000 children in our state could be without food in a few days because USDA is playing an illegal game of shutdown politics,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “They have emergency money to help feed children during this shutdown, and they’re refusing to spend it. I warned them last week that I would take them to court if they tried to hurt our kids, and today that’s what we’re doing.”
The press release continues saying that since the shutdown began, the same agency has used its authority to give out billions for other programs and help fund nutritional benefits for infants and pregnant woman by moving around funds.
SNAP monthly payments are about $175 per North Carolinian to help cover basic food and nutrition needs.
Tuesday’s lawsuit alleges the agency is violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the SNAP Act. Jackson is asking the court to require USDA to pay out SNAP benefits and cancel the USDA’s previous unlawful orders to the states.
Jackson is also filing a temporary restraining order later Tuesday asking the court to immediately turn benefits back on.
