NCN Files Lawsuit to Protect Access to Critical Food Assistance During Government Shutdown

Updated 11/6

11/6

In a hearing today, a federal judge ordered the Administration to provide FULL SNAP benefits to households by tomorrow, November 7. In a motion to the court, attorneys for NCN and the other plaintiffs argued that the Administration's decision to only provide partial benefits violated the court's previous order. The judge issued a new temporary restraining order to require the Administration to provide full funding by tomorrow, November 7.

As NCN president and CEO Diane Yentel says in a press statement, “I applaud the court for taking action to prevent the Trump Administration from using food assistance as a political tool. America’s families, children, and seniors cannot wait for basic and critically needed food security, and this court order makes clear that there is no excuse for the Administration’s decision to leave them without food on their tables. Nonprofit food banks and food pantries are already doing everything they can to serve their communities. Every delay or reduction in SNAP benefits puts an unsustainable strain on the nonprofit sector.”

This is another important victory for the 42 million people who rely on SNAP and nonprofits nationwide working to address hunger in their communities!

11/5

After President Trump threatened not to comply with a federal court judge's order to use contingency funds to provide partial SNAP benefits, the White House backtracked. NCN and the other plaintiffs in the case filed a second motion yesterday, urging the court to require the Administration use additional discretionary funds to provide full SNAP benefits. The Administration is required to respond to our motion by the end of the day today, and a hearing will be held tomorrow at 3:30pm to hear arguments.

10/31

Judge Issues Emergency Protection for Food Assistance

A federal court in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) in the lawsuit brought by NCN and a broad coalition of other plaintiffs seeking to protect SNAP benefits! Under the TRO, the Trump Administration is required to distribute contingency funds to continue food assistance. 

While temporary, this order provides immediate relief to the 42 million Americans who otherwise would have lost access to food assistance, and the thousands of nonprofit food banks and food pantries that have been stepping up in their communities to fill the gaps. 

The case was argued by Democracy Forward and the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island.

NCN's press statement is available here.

10/30

BREAKING NEWS: Our partners at the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) are holding the federal administration accountable for its legal responsibility to release SNAP funds which are critical for nonprofit food pantries and anti-hunger programs across Maine.

“MANP is proud to be part of this powerful network helping nonprofits deliver critical programs and services to local communities across Maine and the nation,” shares Jennifer Hutchins, MANP Executive Director and NCN Board Member

Today, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island together with a broad coalition of community- and faith-based nonprofit organizations, small businesses and unions, and local governments to help protect access to critical food assistance for millions of Americans during the federal government shutdown.

Without action, federal funds will run out on November 1 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This action will leave 42 million low-income Americans, including children, seniors, and veterans, without access to healthy, nutritious food. While local nonprofit food banks and pantries are already stepping up to fill the gaps in their communities, many do not have the resources or capacity to serve everyone in need. In the lawsuit, NCN and the other plaintiffs urge the federal court to ensure families and individuals are not cut off from the assistance they need to put food on their tables.

As NCN president and CEO Diane Yentel stated in a press release, “Denying millions of Americans access to basic food security is unlawful and unconscionable, and it threatens to push local nonprofit food banks, food pantries, and other organizations beyond the breaking point. Nonprofits are already doing everything they can to feed families and care for their communities amidst increasing need and diminishing resources, but they cannot replace federal nutrition programs, nor can they meet the tsunami of need that would result without SNAP benefits. We are suing the Trump administration because without federal food assistance, nonprofits will be left with an impossible burden and millions of people will go hungry.”

Stand Together

Keep Maine Safe and Warm:

If you are able, help keep Maine fed and warm by supporting your local food pantries, wood banks, other local nonprofits, and mutual aid groups. While this is an important temporary step, food pantries typically provide 1 meal for every 9 that SNAP provides, according to Feeding America. Charitable nonprofits and philanthropy simply do not have the capacity or infrastructure to fill the gap.

If you need assistance, 211 Maine can help you connect with the support you need. 

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The kind of collective action you see here is what drives change. By joining MANP, you become part of a national network standing up for nonprofits and the people they serve.

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