A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from withholding $80 million to administer Minnesota’s food stamp program while the state reviews the eligibility of 100,000 households amid claims of widespread fraud.
U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino, during a hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota federal court, said it was likely illegal for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to give Minnesota only 30 days, until January 15, to complete the review of its food stamp program, known as SNAP.
Minnesota sued after the USDA said it would stop covering half of the costs to administer the state’s food stamp program if it failed to meet the deadline. The USDA cited a broader scandal around the theft of federal funds intended for social-welfare programs in Minnesota.
Provinzino on Wednesday said the USDA had not explained why the expedited review was necessary to root out fraud and that the agency had flouted a federal law barring states from reviewing SNAP recipients’ eligibility more than once a year.
“USDA is asking the state to violate federal law, regulations, and the state’s own operational plan,” which had previously been approved by the agency, said Provinzino, an appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden.
The judge blocked the USDA from withholding the funding from Minnesota pending the outcome of the lawsuit, including $20 million for the first quarter of the year that the agency had said earlier on Wednesday would not be disbursed. The case does not involve the funding for monthly food stamp benefits that go to recipients.
Time to start arresting these judges that do nothing and get paid for it.