California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), challenging recent guidance that restricts eligibility for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawsuit, joined by 21 other attorneys general, claims that the USDA’s interpretation of the “Big Beautiful Bill” wrongly excludes certain lawfully residing non-citizens from SNAP benefits, even though they become eligible once they obtain lawful permanent resident status.
Bonta stated, “The Trump Administration is effectively depriving thousands of lawful permanent residents of food assistance benefits that Congress intended be available. SNAP recipients are still recovering from the whiplash President Trump and his Administration put them through in seeking to block November SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. No President has ever worked harder to deprive hungry Americans of access to basic nutrition. Ahead of the holidays, we’re not giving up the fight. We’re asking a court to step in and stop the USDA from applying its faulty new guidance before any further damage can be done.”
The Big Beautiful Bill amended federal law to remove SNAP eligibility for individuals who entered as refugees, were granted asylum, or humanitarian parole at admission or parole. However, it did not prevent these individuals from becoming eligible for SNAP if they later adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. According to Bonta and his coalition, USDA’s guidance incorrectly lists these groups as “not eligible,” rather than clarifying their potential eligibility after a change in status. The guidance also states that humanitarian entrants must wait five years after obtaining legal permanent residency before qualifying for SNAP, when current law allows immediate eligibility upon receiving such status.
States responsible for implementing these changes have reported confusion due to what they describe as misleading and late-issued federal guidance. There is concern this could result in increased errors in determining who qualifies for food assistance.
Federal regulations require a 120-day period before new mandatory changes take effect, but USDA stated this exclusionary period ended just one day after issuing its guidance on October 31, 2025.
The lawsuit argues that USDA’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and asks the U.S. District Court for Oregon to prevent enforcement of the disputed guidance and its use in calculating state error rates.
Bonta has previously challenged attempts by the Trump Administration to limit SNAP benefits during a government shutdown—a position supported by two federal district courts—and opposed efforts by the administration to pause orders requiring full benefit payments.
Attorneys general from New York, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia joined California in filing this suit.
