Shapiro joins lawsuit to keep SNAP food benefits going amid shutdown

[FakeNoose]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/10/28/shapiro-lawsuit-snap-food-benefits-federal-shutdown/stories/202510280090

WASHINGTON — Gov. Josh Shapiro joined his counterparts in two-dozen other states Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to suspend food stamps if the federal government shutdown extends past this week.

Nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians — including 300,000 in the 11 counties served by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank — are set to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November because of the lapse in federal funding. Mr. Shapiro and the other governors, all Democrats, said the administration’s refusal to tap more than $5 billion in reserves for the program is set to cause “irreparable harm.”

“Dire public health consequences" include hunger and malnutrition for children while at the same time potentially overwhelming local food banks and losing long-term trust in the program, the governors said in their lawsuit.

It specifically mentions the nearly 700,000 children in Pennsylvania who benefit from the $329 average monthly benefits. Other impacts will come in the form of “economic consequences,” like the loss of business for 10,600 merchants in Pennsylvania that accept SNAP benefits for food purchases, the lawsuit argues.

- more at link -

The merchants - especially large chain grocers - aren't happy AT ALL!