Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Judge Extends SNAP Grace Period to April 2026 and Blocks State Penalties

The ruling shields states from sanctions tied to disputed noncitizen SNAP guidance.

A man holds a sign reading "SNAP Feeds Families," as food aid benefits come under threat due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, during "A Rally for SNAP" on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., October 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
Stock image/file photo: SNAP accepted here sign in retailer window.
Image

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai in Oregon granted a preliminary injunction after a nearly four-hour hearing requested by a multistate coalition.
  • The order moves the compliance deadline from Nov. 1 to April 9, 2026, rejecting USDA’s position that the 120‑day grace period had already expired.
  • USDA is barred from imposing fiscal penalties for state errors traceable to the Oct. 31 guidance while the lawsuit proceeds.
  • USDA issued revised guidance on Dec. 9 clarifying that certain lawful permanent residents, including former refugees and asylees, remain eligible for SNAP.
  • California Attorney General Rob Bonta and attorneys general from 20 other states plus Washington, D.C., brought the case, while the Justice Department argued states misunderstood the initial guidance.