Governor Janet Mills is condemning what she calls the Trump administration’s “callous and cruel” move to block SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.
Mills made the statement Sunday after the Supreme Court late Friday temporarily blocked a lower court’s order for SNAP funding to be distributed.
“The Trump administration pledged full benefits, and Maine took swift action to deliver them accordingly,” said Mills in a statement Sunday. “That the President would then petition the highest court to deny food to hungry families and seniors is beyond belief and is callous and cruel.”
Hours earlier on Friday, Mills had ordered the state to issue full benefits.
The Mills Administration said Sunday it fully expects benefits to be issued starting today.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is demanding states immediately undo any actions to provide SNAP benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the command late Saturday.
The Mills administration said it’s aware is aware of the latest SNAP guidance from USDA, noting it was the sixth such conflicting change to its guidance over the past month.
The Mills administration says it’s continuing to monitor developments in the federal litigation.
An appeals court in Boston is expected to make a decision on whether to uphold the lower court’s order for SNAP money to be sent out. The Supreme Court’s temporary pause on the lower court’s order is based on an expectation the appeals court will take action quickly.
