NY, NJ challenge Trump’s threats to SNAP funding amid confusion over payments

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Federal Judge Thwarts Trump Administration's Attempt to Revise SNAP Funding Amid State Pushback.

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot revoke full food assistance benefits currently being distributed by New York and New Jersey, following a nearly week-long delay in payments. The ruling comes as the Trump administration initially informed states to issue partial payments reduced by 35% due to funding concerns during the ongoing government shutdown.

However, this guidance contradicts the USDA's previous directive issued the day before, which instructed states to pay benefits fully. New Jersey has reportedly distributed SNAP payments to all recipients on Friday, while New York continues issuing payments that began Sunday. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program provides crucial support to 3 million New Yorkers and 800,000 New Jerseyans, helping them afford their groceries.

New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed outrage at the administration's actions, calling it "shocking and disgusting." She also questioned the necessity of revoking funding during the shutdown, particularly with the federal government potentially reopening soon. The attorney general stated that people are not mere abstractions but real individuals who are hungry and in need of assistance.

In another development, a Massachusetts judge blocked the USDA from reversing any funding or punishing states that had already distributed payments. This ruling ensures that families can continue to receive food assistance they need without fear of repercussions. New York residents have been advised to use their rightful SNAP benefits, which will be reloaded soon.

Despite this, some stores in both states have reportedly refused to accept SNAP payments. In response, the attorney general's office sent cease-and-desist letters to ShopRite and Hannaford following reports that these grocery stores blocked people from using their EBT cards.

The situation highlights the chaotic state of affairs at the federal level, with conflicting guidance and rulings causing uncertainty among states and social services organizations. According to Robert Cordero, executive director of Grand Street Settlement, a 25% increase in food pantries was seen last week due to SNAP payments being paused on November 1.

The case has been described as "a rolling disaster" by Cordero, reflecting the ongoing turmoil caused by the Trump administration's efforts to block funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program.
 
Ugh man 😩 this whole situation is just so messed up 🤯. I mean can't they just make a decision already? 🙄 It's like they're trying to mess with people's lives on purpose 💔. Food assistance is supposed to be there for those who need it most, not something that's being pulled out from under them at the last minute ⏰. And what's up with some stores refusing to accept SNAP payments? 🤦‍♀️ It's just ridiculous. The judge in New York was right on point btw 👏. Can't we just have a stable system for once? 🙏
 
🤕 I can imagine how stressful this must be for people who rely on SNAP benefits. It's not just about the money, it's about being able to put food on the table and having a bit of dignity. The fact that stores are refusing to accept these cards is just ridiculous 🙄. And the fact that there's no clear guidance from the federal government is really frustrating. I can see why the attorneys general are so outraged 😤. It's like, come on guys, people are hungry and in need, can't we all just figure this out together? 🤝 This situation is a perfect example of how our broken system can cause chaos at the local level 🚨. And to think that food pantries saw a 25% increase last week... it's heartbreaking 💔.
 
🤦‍♂️ I'm so done with the Trump admin's antics on SNAP funding. Like, can't they just make up their minds already? It's not like it's rocket science 🚀. States are getting slammed because of these back-and-forth orders and now people are suffering. Food insecurity is a real thing and we shouldn't be treated like we're invisible 👀. The fact that some stores are even refusing to accept SNAP payments is just nuts 🤯. I'm glad NY and NJ are standing up for their citizens, though. It's about time someone did 💪.
 
OMG u guyz!!! 😱 this is crazy! i cant even imagine if they really revoked food assistance benefits now 🤯 its like, what r we supposed 2 do?? 🙅‍♀️ the whole thing is so messed up rn 👎 but im glad there are ppl like NY AG Letitia James speakin out against it 💪 and like a MA judge who blocked the USDA from reversing funding 🙌 now lets hope states like NJ can keep issuing payments and ppl get their rightful food benefits back 🍴👍
 
Ugh, can't believe what's happening with food assistance 🤯 I mean, like, shouldn't we just be able to get our groceries without all this drama? My grandma was on SNAP back in 2017 and it really helped her out when she lost her job. And now this whole thing is causing people to lose their benefits and go hungry... it's just not right 🤕 I'm so glad the judges are stepping in to stop this, but what's going on with all these conflicting guidelines? It's like they can't even get their own stuff straight 😂
 
I'm like totally bummed that they're trying to mess with people's food benefits again... 🤕 Remember when Bush tried to cut WIC funding back in 2006? It was a big deal then and it still is now. I feel bad for the families who are struggling, especially since some stores won't even take their EBT cards... 😡 That just shows they're not taking food insecurity seriously. And what's with the contradictory guidance from the USDA? It's like they can't make up their minds. The fact that a Massachusetts judge stepped in and blocked any further punishment is kinda cool, I guess... 🤝 But we need more than just one judge to fix this mess. We need some real leadership on SNAP funding, stat! 💪
 
man this is just another example of how messed up things can get when you have people in power making decisions without thinking about the impact on others 🤦‍♂️. i mean, come on 35% reduction in food assistance benefits? that's like, a whole lot of people going hungry or having to choose between paying rent and buying groceries. and now some stores are refusing to accept SNAP payments? that's just crazy 🤑. the fact that states had to push back against the trumps admin is actually kind of impressive, shows that they're not gonna just sit around and let people suffer because of partisan politics 💪. but at the same time, it's also a reminder that even in good times, we should be careful not to let our budgets get too out of whack 🤯. anyway, glad that some judges are making decisions that benefit regular people instead of just lining the pockets of corporations or politicians 👏.
 
omg what a mess 🤯 i cant even imagine how stressful it must be for ppl who rely on snap to get their benefits on time. i feel so bad for them having to deal with this constant uncertainty. its not just about the money, its about being able to put food on the table and care for ur family. i hope the courts can help sort out this chaos soon 🙏
 
🤔 I think it's crazy that the admin is trying to pull this stunt on SNAP funding 🤑 like what even is the point? People need food to survive, can't we just focus on getting things done instead of playing politics? 🙄 And can we please acknowledge that states have a right to decide how they want to distribute funds in their own states? New York and New Jersey are just trying to do what's best for their citizens 💯. I'm all about supporting the people, not making it harder for them to get by 👌
 
😂 I mean, what's up with the government shutdown drama? It's like they're trying to starve us on purpose... not literally though, because that'd be a bad idea 😂. Seriously though, it's just ridiculous that states had to get all up in arms over this. I'm no expert, but can't someone just fix the books or something? 💸 And what's with the partial payments? It's like they're trying to sneak one by us 🤷‍♂️. Glad the courts are stepping in to make sure people don't go hungry 🙏. On a lighter note, I wonder how many of these people were planning on cooking ramen noodles for the rest of the month 😂. Anyway, let's just hope this mess gets sorted out soon and we can all get back to eating our favorite foods without worrying about being cut off 💕.
 
🚨😱 this ruling is like, totally needed! i mean think about it, people are struggling to feed themselves and their families because of some admin nonsense... the fact that stores in ny & nj refused to accept snap payments is just crazy 🤯 how can they do that? what's next, gonna leave them out in the cold? 🍔👎 anyway, i'm glad the courts stepped in to protect these people and their food. it's not rocket science, we gotta help those who need it most! 💖
 
🚨 This is just crazy! I mean, can't the Trump admin get it together? They're trying to cut food assistance benefits for 3 million New Yorkers and 800k New Jerseyans, but a judge in New York says that's not allowed 🤦‍♂️. And now, stores are refusing to accept SNAP payments because of conflicting guidance 😳. It's like they don't care about people who need help getting food on the table. The USDA is supposed to be helping families afford groceries, but instead it's causing chaos and uncertainty 📊. I'm glad a judge in Massachusetts blocked them from reversing funding, but this whole situation is just a mess 🤯.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation... It's like, we're living in a world where people's basic needs are being put on hold because of politics. 3 million New Yorkers and 800,000 New Jerseyans are counting on that SNAP funding to get by, and the fact that it's been delayed or threatened is just, like, so frustrating. 🤯

But what really gets me is how people are being treated - like they're not even real individuals with families and bills to pay. The thought of stores refusing to accept EBT cards because of some bureaucratic mess is just heartbreaking. It's like we've lost sight of what's truly important: taking care of each other.

I mean, think about it... if the federal government can't figure out how to fund a program that helps people eat, what does that say about our values as a society? We're always talking about being a "beacon of hope" and a "global leader," but when it comes down to it, we're more concerned with petty politics than actual people's lives. It's like, where do we draw the line between being tough on spending and actually taking care of our citizens? 🤔
 
I'm literally fuming about this 😡... how can you just yank food benefits from people when they need it most? I mean, come on! 3 million New Yorkers and 800k New Jerseyans are counting on those SNAP payments to get them through the month 🤯. And now, with a federal judge stepping in, it's like the Trump administration is just trying to play politics with people's lives 💔. The fact that some stores in NY and NJ refused to accept EBT cards is just ridiculous - what kind of country are we living in where grocery stores can block people from buying food? 🤷‍♀️ It's a real disaster, plain and simple. And what's the rush? Can't they see that this pause in payments has already caused chaos for social services organizations? A 25% increase in food pantries is just devastating 🤕... the situation is out of control, and I don't know how much more of this we can take 😩.
 
I'm livid that these store owners are blocking people from using their EBT cards 🚫💸 What kind of business practices is this?! It's just another example of how the shutdown is affecting everyday folks who don't have a say in what's going on. These stores should be helping out, not holding people back. New Jersey and NY got that right by distributing payments ASAP 🙌
 
Omg, this is so messed up! 🤯🍎 The Trump admin's attempt to slash SNAP funding is a total fail 💔. I mean, 3 million New Yorkers and 800k NJans are counting on these benefits to get by. It's not just about numbers, it's real people who need food on the table 🍴. Can't they see that revoking funding during a shutdown is just plain cruel? 😕 NY AG Letitia James is right to call it out as "shocking and disgusting" - what's next?! The USDA's previous directive was clear, so why did they go rogue? 🤷‍♀️ And now, some stores are refusing SNAP payments? Like, what's the point of even having a food program if people can't use it? 😡 #SNAPfunding #FoodAssistanceMatters #JusticeForTheHungry
 
OMG 😱 can u believe this? 🤯 The Trump admin thinks they can just mess with food assistance benefits like that?! 🍔👎 It's not just about the money, it's about people's lives! 💸 There are 3 million New Yorkers and 800k NJans who need help paying for groceries. And now they're trying to revoke funding from states that are already issuing payments? 🤯 That's just cruel. 😒 I mean, what's next? Revoking healthcare or something?! 😱 NY AG Letitia James is speaking truth to power here and we should be supporting her! 💪
 
🤯 I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation... it's crazy how the federal government can create so much uncertainty and chaos at the state level. The fact that they initially instructed states to reduce SNAP payments by 35% during the shutdown, but then later said the opposite, is just unbelievable. It's like they're playing a game of bureaucratic whack-a-mole.

And don't even get me started on the stores that are refusing to accept SNAP payments... it's just common-sense nonsense. These grocery stores know that people are struggling and need access to food, so why would they refuse to take EBT cards? It's like they're taking advantage of a vulnerable population for their own gain.

I also want to give a shoutout to the judges who stepped in and blocked the USDA from reversing funding or punishing states that had already distributed payments. That's what leadership looks like! And to New York Attorney General Letitia James, I couldn't agree more - people are not just statistics or policy debates, they're real individuals with basic human needs.

This whole situation is a perfect example of how our federal system can get out of whack when politicians prioritize politics over people. It's time for some common sense and compassion to take center stage! 😤
 
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