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In a move that has sparked a new legal and administrative confrontation between the federal government and more than two dozen states, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has demanded that state governments “immediately rescind” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments issued last week by court order.
The decision comes just after the Supreme Court suspended the court rulings that required the federal government to finance such payments.
However, many of these funds have already been distributed, benefiting millions of people in need.
A lawsuit amid administrative chaos
The federal government's demand came as more than two dozen states warned of "catastrophic operational disruptions" if they did not receive reimbursement for the funds used to distribute SNAP benefits.
The warning is part of an urgent lawsuit filed on Saturday with the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
In it, the states argue that the Trump administration's refusal to reimburse payments could lead to a large-scale humanitarian and administrative crisis.
“States could face demands for the repayment of hundreds of millions of dollars in total,” the legal text states.
In addition, governors fear that the lack of funds will trigger a chain of serious consequences: unpaid suppliers, disruptions in the food supply chain, and a flood of new lawsuits.
Wisconsin, on the brink of operational collapse
One of the most critical cases is that of Wisconsin, which had already loaded SNAP benefits onto electronic cards for 700,000 residents, including 270,000 children, before the court suspension.
However, the Treasury Department blocked refunds to the state, which could leave it without funds as early as Monday, as warned by Governor Tony Evers' administration in a lengthy statement released on Sunday.
Far from accepting the federal government's order, Evers was unequivocal in his response: "No," he stated. The governor defended the legality of the transfers made under judicial protection:
"In accordance with a valid court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits onto the cards, ensuring that nearly 700,000 residents of Wisconsin, including almost 270,000 children, had access to basic food," Evers emphasized.
He also accused the Trump administration of failing to fulfill its commitment:
"The Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement the full benefits of SNAP by November and that they would 'complete the necessary processes to ensure that the funds were available.' To date, they have not done so."
The SNAP, at the center of a protracted legal battle
This conflict is merely the latest episode in a years-long struggle between state and federal governments over the scope and funding of SNAP, the largest food assistance program in the United States, with more than 42 million beneficiaries each month.
In November, nonprofit organizations and attorneys general from several states filed a lawsuit to compel the Trump administration to restore full SNAP benefits following previous cuts.
Last week, following favorable rulings, the states proceeded to release the funds immediately, supported by the court decisions.
However, in a swift maneuver, the Trump administration appealed and obtained a stay of those resolutions from the Supreme Court on Friday night.
Despite the fact that most of the funds had already been disbursed, the Department of Agriculture deemed the payments invalid.
In an official communication to the state directors of SNAP, Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture, wrote:
"As states submitted complete SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was not authorized. Therefore, states must immediately undo any actions taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025."
Meanwhile, the organizations that initiated the lawsuit are concerned that the retroactive nullification of payments in accordance with existing court orders sets a dangerous precedent for the implementation of social policies, and at the same time undermines the legal certainty of federal programs across the country.
What's going to happen?
The Trump administration's order to cancel already made SNAP payments has plunged states into a large-scale operational crisis.
Beyond the numbers and the disputes among powers, the battle for Food Stamps is, above all, a battle for the meals of millions of families.
The response from the states—both legally and politically—will shape the course of this dispute in the coming weeks. But there is already one certainty: the food security of over 40 million people is once again at stake.
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