Gov. Tony Evers joined a coalition of states seeking to prevent the Trump administration from requiring states to claw back food stamp benefits.
Evers has rejected the Trump administration’s push for states to reverse a portion of the FoodShare payments. A federal judge yesterday temporarily blocked the administration from forcing states to do just that.
At a stop in La Crosse yesterday to tour a local food pantry, Evers blasted President Donald Trump, charging him with trying to take food away from people who need it.
“The fact that they’re trying to claw that back, that’s embarrassing. That’s embarrassing for any president of the United States, whether it’s Donald Trump or somebody else,” Evers said.
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The development is the latest in an ongoing legal battle with states over the aid. The Trump administration has sought to withhold emergency funding for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown despite previously saying the funds could be used. Senators in Washington passed a plan to reopen the government that now goes to the House, which could potentially provide financial relief in the coming days.
Several states released November food stamp benefits last week after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would comply with a federal court order requiring it to fully fund the aid. Wisconsin released $104.4 million for the payments.
However, the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, and a justice late Friday granted a stay of the lower court’s ruling. USDA late Saturday then informed states that they should only load payments reflecting a 35% reduction in the maximum allotment for November. It also directed any states that sent full SNAP payments to immediately undo those steps, saying the action wasn’t authorized.
The multi-state petition that Wisconsin joined challenges the latest directives and cites a “continual state of whiplash” due to conflicting guidance from the Trump administration.
The states argued clawing back the benefits would undermine trust between state agencies and food stamp recipients. They also noted there is no process for “unsending” SNAP benefits, particularly after many recipients have already spent them to feed their families.
“Even if such a process were possible, it would be extremely laborious for Plaintiffs and would cause dire consequences for SNAP recipients already desperate following days without benefits. In short, USDA’s guidance is both vague and virtually impossible for Plaintiffs to comply with,” they said.
Asked who would cover state administrative costs for the program if the funding is pulled away, Evers said of Trump: “He’s not going to do it.”
“He can claw all he wants. He can get his big fingers out there and start bringing it back; it’s not gonna happen. They have no authority to do that,” Evers said.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Grocers Association said grocers across the state are accepting FoodShare benefits and ensuring no one goes without food.
WGA President Mike Semmann in a statement said the group has only heard stories of “compassion, flexibility, and community support.”
“Grocers did not need an executive order to do the right thing,” Semmann added. “They’ve been doing it all along. From helping seniors navigate benefits to donating to food banks, Wisconsin grocers are stepping up, not stepping back despite the continued court action and funding questions.”
Semmann’s comments come after a pair of state agencies earlier yesterday urged retailers to continue accepting FoodShare benefits, warning businesses can’t turn away people looking to redeem money loaded onto their QUEST cards.
A spokesperson for DATCP this afternoon said the agency hasn’t received any complaints and isn’t aware of any instances of Wisconsinites being unable to use their FoodShare benefits at stores.
Matt Stienstra, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s director of advocacy and community engagement, also told WisPolitics-State Affairs the food bank hasn’t seen any examples of people not being able to use their benefits.
