Attorney General Kris Mayes has secured a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration’s efforts to reverse the release of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The order, issued by Judge Talwani, temporarily blocks federal directives that would have required states to retract SNAP payments already distributed to residents.
The legal action was prompted after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a late-night memo instructing states to “immediately undo” the release of November SNAP benefits. This directive contradicted previous USDA guidance and came after several states, including Arizona, had started issuing full benefits based on an earlier USDA communication.
“In processing full SNAP benefits for November, Arizona was following USDA’s own guidance as well as a court order,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The Trump administration’s cruel and chaotic attempt to undo their earlier guidance continues to confuse and harm families who need access to their SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families. We will keep fighting in court to ensure Arizonans have access to food.”
On November 7, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered the USDA to make full SNAP benefits available nationwide. Following this ruling, the USDA informed states it would comply with the order and facilitate benefit distribution. States then began authorizing payments in line with this guidance.
However, after obtaining an emergency stay from the Supreme Court blocking the lower court’s order, the USDA reversed its position and told states that distributing full benefits would be considered “unauthorized.” The federal government also warned that states could face financial penalties for proceeding with these payments.
In response, Attorney General Mayes joined 24 other attorneys general and governors in filing an emergency motion seeking a temporary restraining order against what they described as burdensome federal demands.
The coalition includes attorneys general from California, Minnesota, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin; as well as governors from Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
A copy of last night’s filing is available here.
