Federal Court Pauses Litigation Over SNAP Data During Government Shutdown
A federal court paused litigation Wednesday in a case involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s demand for state data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
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The USDA asked the U.S. District Court for Northern California to halt proceedings in case 3:25-cv-06310 due to the lack of funds and the inability of agency employees to work during the government shutdown.
In response, the coalition of plaintiff states agreed “a stay is appropriate given the shutdown” but asked the court to ensure its temporary restraining order remains in effect.
“This approach maintains the status quo and avoids prejudice to Plaintiffs during Defendants’ delay,” the states said. It also “avoids the inequity of allowing Defendants to pick and choose, according to their preference, which aspects of this case should be stayed.”
Judge Maxine Chesney kept the preliminary injunction hearing, scheduled for Oct. 9, as well as Friday's deadline for states to respond to the defendants’ filings, but she stayed the remaining deadlines in the case during the appropriations lapse.
“The Government is directed to promptly notify the Court as soon as the government shutdown has ended and, if necessary given the circumstances of this case, confer with opposing counsel and submit within two weeks a joint proposed schedule for the remainder of litigation,” she added.
In the lawsuit, a coalition of states argue that USDA's data demand is a violation of privacy and other laws, and they have been granted a temporary restraining order to block the collection (see 2509190015).