Maryland AG Joins States in Fight to Ensure Full SNAP Benefits for Millions

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 26 states in filing a legal brief to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to withhold full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from millions of Americans. The federal government’s legal maneuver, lodged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, seeks to prevent a court-ordered deadline for funding November benefits. This action comes after a federal judge in Rhode Island mandated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fully disburse these crucial funds by November 7, 2025.

The amicus brief, filed in the case Rhode Island State Council of Churches, et al., v. Rollins, et al., argues that the USDA must immediately provide full funding for SNAP benefits to avert further detrimental impacts on the participating states. According to the coalition, the USDA’s intricate and burdensome calculation methods for reduced benefits have led to widespread confusion and potential disruptions in the timely delivery of aid to recipients. Furthermore, the brief highlights that a reduction in SNAP benefits has a cascading negative effect on other state-administered social services. Increased food insecurity, the attorneys general contend, places additional strain on state safety net programs, as well as on healthcare and educational institutions that often serve vulnerable populations.

The participating attorneys general assert that the federal government’s reluctance to meet its legal obligations in fully funding the SNAP program is causing significant hardship for American families, making it difficult for them to secure essential necessities. These hardships, they argue, will persist if the federal government does not promptly provide complete funding for SNAP benefits. The coalition is urging the court to deny the federal government’s request to halt the court order. In addition to Maryland Attorney General Brown, the brief was supported by the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania also joined in supporting the brief.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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