MA Joins Suit Vs. Trump Administration Over Food Stamp Changes

BOSTON — Massachusetts is among a coalition of 14 states and two cities suing President Donald Trump’s administration over a rule that could cost more than 700,000 Americans their food stamp eligibility.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by mostly Democratic-controlled states, is led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine. Other states suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Sonny Perdue include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

The lawsuit challenges a USDA rule limiting states’ ability to extend benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — beyond a three-month period for certain adults.

The rule, announced last month, would affect people between the ages of 18 and 49 who are childless and not disabled. Under current rules, this group is required to work at least 20 hours a week for more than three months over a three-year period to qualify for food stamps; but until now, states were able to create waivers for areas that face high unemployment.

The new policy limits states from waiving those standards, restricting their use to counties with an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher. The national unemployment rate in October was 3.6 percent, while the unemployment rate in Massachusetts was 2.9 percent.

The new policy, slated to go into effect April 1, would reportedly trim $5.5 billion from the federal budget over the next five years.

The rule is one of three programs proposed by the Trump administration intended to limit food stamps. Combined, the plans would constrict food stamp benefits for an estimated 3.7 million people.