AG Kaul joins lawsuit against USDA about SNAP benefits

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a lawsuit Tuesday asking a judge to require that SNAP benefits be funded for November. Kaul, along with lawmakers from over a dozen other states, accused the U.S. Department of Agriculture of failing to use contingency funds that were appropriated by Congress for use “at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations.” According to the lawsuit, a total $6 billion in contingency funds are available for the USDA to use. Despite that, the USDA informed states this month that there would not be enough money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November if the federal government shutdown continues. The lawsuit argues that blocking SNAP payments violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawmakers asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to resume November’s payments.