NORTH CAROLINA — A federal judge has blocked changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that North Carolina officials said could have put $425 million in food assistance at risk.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and other states sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over requirements tied to changes in SNAP eligibility and administration.
The states argued the USDA gave North Carolina just 24 hours to implement new guidance for SNAP applications, according to WRAL.
Officials said failing to meet the deadline could have resulted in financial penalties and the withholding of federal SNAP funds.
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The USDA had threatened to withhold $425 million in SNAP funding affecting about 1.4 million North Carolinians, according to the North Carolina Department of Justice. A federal court ruled in favor of the states and issued an injunction blocking the USDA’s requirements.
The changes stem from the 2025 federal budget law, which changed some SNAP eligibility requirements and shifted some program costs to states under certain circumstances.
The USDA has indicated it is consulting with the U.S. Department of Justice about whether to appeal the ruling.
Jackson’s office said this is the second lawsuit he has won against the USDA involving SNAP. In 2025, Jackson sued after the USDA withheld more than $230 million in monthly food assistance for North Carolinians during the federal government shutdown. A federal court later ruled the USDA had acted unlawfully and ordered the agency to develop a plan to pay benefits.