More than 80 local governments and leaders urge court to protect SNAP benefits amid federal appeal

For immediate release: Nov. 7, 2025

Media contact: Jackie Jena, jackie@publicrightsproject.org

BOSTON, MA — A coalition of more than 80 local governments and leaders from across the country has joined together to protect access to essential food and nutrition assistance for over 41 million Americans. With support from Public Rights Project, the coalition is urging the appellate court to ensure families receive the full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits they rely on.

In a ruling on Thursday, the district court had ordered the federal government to make full SNAP payments by Friday, Nov. 7. Instead of complying, the federal government appealed the lower court’s ruling and is seeking to delay those benefits through an emergency motion.

“Millions of households depend on SNAP benefits to keep food on the table for their families,” said Jill Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “Local communities and leaders are stepping up to help their most vulnerable neighbors, but they don’t have enough resources to close the gap created by this federal failure. Our coalition is urging the courts to put people over politics.”

The brief highlights three major harms to local communities:

• The federal government has failed local communities and those who rely on them the most. Since the shutdown began, it has used critical SNAP benefits — relied on by 1 in 8 Americans — as leverage. Even with the funds and authority to issue November payments to more than 41 million people, the government has chosen to withhold support from children, seniors and veterans.
• Severe strain on local safety nets: Cities and counties are diverting scarce emergency funds because of the crisis created by the federal government. This includes best efforts to support food banks, direct cash assistance and donations, and aid with utility support programs to fill the gap left by the missing SNAP benefits. It’s unsustainable, today and in the long term.
• Human and public health impacts: Without SNAP, families are skipping meals, going hungry, facing utility shutoffs and experiencing mounting food insecurity — deepening poverty and undermining community stability heading into winter.

The brief argues that granting the federal government’s cruel request for a stay would deepen harm to residents and communities already stretched to the limit. Local governments emphasize that the public interest overwhelmingly favors immediate distribution of benefits.

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About Public Rights Project
As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Public Rights Project helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We do this by building their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convening and connecting them on issues of civil rights, and providing legal representation to governments to help them win in court on behalf of their residents. Since our founding, we’ve built a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected official

s and 227 government offices across all 50 states, and helped recover over $46 million in relief for marginalized people. www.publicrightsproject.org