Governor Janet Mills (D) said Sunday she expects full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to begin Monday, condemning what she described as the Trump administration’s attempt to block the distribution of full benefits during the federal government shutdown.
Mills said the action is “callous and cruel,” noting that SNAP supports about 170,000 people in Maine, including children, seniors and people with disabilities. She said Maine acted quickly based on federal guidance pledging full benefits and criticized the administration for later moving to halt them.
“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,” Mills said in a statement.
“The president should not be directing states to take food out of the mouths of the hungry. He should be directing Republicans in Congress to end this needless shutdown by extending health care tax credits and reopening the government. Instead, his actions are hurting our most vulnerable people, while the president hosts lavish parties in Florida and builds a $350 million ballroom at the White House,” she added.
Mills directed the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Friday to send full November SNAP benefits to all eligible households. Maine was among several states to move forward based on federal guidance, and DHHS instructed the state’s SNAP distribution vendor to issue benefits on Monday, Nov. 10.
Hours later, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary order pausing a lower court ruling that required the full distribution of benefits while further legal action proceeds.
According to ABC News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a memo late Saturday ordering states to reverse any steps taken to issue SNAP benefits and warning that states could face financial penalties if they do not comply.
The governor’s office said it is aware of additional guidance from the USDA over the weekend and is continuing to monitor the ongoing federal litigation.
