Federal workers on food stamps sue Trump administration over rushed work requirements.
A group of New York residents who rely on food assistance have filed a class-action lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture, claiming that the Trump administration fast-tracked new work rules, which will kick in next week. The changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, are set to cut off thousands of people from their monthly benefits.
Critics say the USDA's decision was made without sufficient warning and amounts to an overreach of authority. Helen Strom, director of the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, described the new rules as "draconian" and said they will be impossible to implement within the short timeframe set by the administration.
The lawsuit argues that Congress never authorized the USDA to end existing exemptions for able-bodied individuals early, leaving recipients without enough time to adjust to the new requirements. The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate halt to the implementation of the work rules and a larger extension of their benefits.
SNAP recipients in New York will be particularly affected by the change, with around 1.8 million people relying on monthly payments to afford groceries. If the federal shutdown continues, the USDA plans to stop paying all SNAP benefits, including those for November. The city's limited job opportunities have led to a series of state and local waivers that exempt residents from work requirements, but these were recently rescinded.
Attorney Pavita Krishnaswamy described the SNAP benefits as "lifelines" for her clients, and expressed concerns about what would happen if the city was unable to implement the new rules. The case has raised questions about the Trump administration's authority over social welfare programs and its handling of the federal shutdown.
A group of New York residents who rely on food assistance have filed a class-action lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture, claiming that the Trump administration fast-tracked new work rules, which will kick in next week. The changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, are set to cut off thousands of people from their monthly benefits.
Critics say the USDA's decision was made without sufficient warning and amounts to an overreach of authority. Helen Strom, director of the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, described the new rules as "draconian" and said they will be impossible to implement within the short timeframe set by the administration.
The lawsuit argues that Congress never authorized the USDA to end existing exemptions for able-bodied individuals early, leaving recipients without enough time to adjust to the new requirements. The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate halt to the implementation of the work rules and a larger extension of their benefits.
SNAP recipients in New York will be particularly affected by the change, with around 1.8 million people relying on monthly payments to afford groceries. If the federal shutdown continues, the USDA plans to stop paying all SNAP benefits, including those for November. The city's limited job opportunities have led to a series of state and local waivers that exempt residents from work requirements, but these were recently rescinded.
Attorney Pavita Krishnaswamy described the SNAP benefits as "lifelines" for her clients, and expressed concerns about what would happen if the city was unable to implement the new rules. The case has raised questions about the Trump administration's authority over social welfare programs and its handling of the federal shutdown.
It's crazy that they're making these changes without giving people enough time to adjust. And it's not just New York, there are like millions of people in the US who rely on this program. I'm kinda sad about this 
I'm literally torn on this one - like, how can they just rush through these changes without warning? It's totally unacceptable that people are gonna lose their benefits 
. On the other hand, I kinda get why the Trump admin wanted to crack down on ppl not working... it is a huge problem in America and we need to do something about it 
. But at the same time, this is just soooo unfair to people who are already struggling to make ends meet 
. Can't they just give ppl some more notice or like, an extension on their benefits? It's all just so frustrating 
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. Like, who comes up with these crazy work requirements anyway? It's not like they're expecting everyone to be a professional athlete or something 
. And honestly, I think it's a good thing that some people are being forced to get off their butts and look for jobs. The city in NY is literally dying from lack of opportunities, so if this means people have to put in some effort to survive, I'm all for it 
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. I mean, come on, 1 week is basically no time at all. Can you imagine if they just cut everyone off cold turkey? It'd be a disaster! 
So yeah, I'm totally with the fed workers on this one - let's get some common sense and support these people who need it 
. It feels like the Trump admin is just trying to pass the buck without thinking about how this affects real people 
. I mean, can't we have some common sense when it comes to helping those who need it most? 
1.8 million ppl in NYC alone will be affected and i'm sure it'll get super messy if the city can't figure out a way to implement these new rules 
Those 1.8 million people in NY relying on food stamps are going to be seriously hurt by this. I mean, what's the point of even having a job if you're not earning enough to afford groceries? It's just cruel. And for what? So some politicians can say they're "reforming" the system? Give me a break!