A federal judge in Boston has halted an initiative by the Trump administration that aimed to impose various conditions on states for receiving billions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun granted a preliminary injunction against these new funding conditions.
The conditions being contested included aspects related to gender ideology, immigration, and fair athletic opportunities for women and girls. Judge Joun stated that he will release a detailed memorandum explaining his decision at a later date.
The lawsuit against these conditions, filed by 20 Democratic states, argues that the Agriculture Department has introduced unconstitutional obstacles threatening crucial nutrition support and agricultural research. These roadblocks pose risks to the national food chain and community safety by interfering with programs Congress intended for state implementation.
The government’s legal team argued against the preliminary injunction, stating that the new requirements would ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. They claim it would also strengthen the USDA’s oversight of funds and assure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and policies.
SNAP plays a vital role in the U.S. social safety net, assisting roughly 39 million Americans, or about one in nine individuals, in buying groceries. The program saw a decrease of nearly 4.3 million beneficiaries from January 2025 to January 2026, as reported by the Agriculture Department. Experts attribute this decline to new requirements imposed by a substantial tax and spending cut bill passed by Republicans last summer.
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