Illinois joined two dozen states in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration’s intention to withhold food stamp funding as the government shutdown continues.
About 2 million Illinois residents will lose their benefits in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, in addition to about 40 million people across the country, starting Nov. 1 unless the government shutdown ends.
The lawsuit was filed by attorneys general from 22 states — including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul — as well as Washington, D.C., and three state governors.
They are asking a federal judge to order the Trump administration to use contingency reserve money to continue funding the program so families can still buy food throughout November.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which funds the SNAP program, sent two notices this month to the Illinois Department of Human Services, which administers the program here, announcing that it would not have enough money to fund benefits in November if the government remained shut down, according to Raoul’s office.
But the coalition of attorneys general and governors argued that the federal government has access to $3 billion in SNAP contingency reserve funds that could be tapped into for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends next September, to use when it is “necessary to carry out program operations.”
“At a time of increased costs for families, the Trump administration is making a deliberate, illegal and cruel decision to cut off access to food for nearly 2 million Illinoisans,” Raoul said in a statement. “I will continue to stand with other attorneys general against the president’s unlawful actions that threaten the separation of powers and the rule of law.”
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If the funding is cut off Nov. 1, Illinois would lose about $350 million that it administers to recipients. About 45% of SNAP recipients in Illinois include households with children, according to state officials.
The lawsuit also claims that the SNAP suspension will have ripple effects on other social programs and the economy. Each dollar in SNAP benefits generates about $1.54 in economic activity, Raoul’s office said, citing a USDA estimate.
Food pantries have also braced for a cut in SNAP funding, and are planning for longer lines due to federal cuts in other social programs like Medicaid.
The funding cuts would also impact grocery stores that accept SNAP payments. SNAP spending leads to an economic output of about $1.3 billion in Illinois grocery and retailing industries, and it provides about 18,000 jobs at grocery stores and related industries, according to the lawsuit.