Democratic States Sue to Prevent Food Aid Cutoff for Millions Amid U.S. Shutdown. A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, aiming to stop what could be a historic lapse in food assistance for millions of Americans. The states are challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision not to use $6 billion in emergency funds to cover November payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. If no action is taken, more than 41 million low-income Americans could lose their benefits starting November 1, the first time in the program's 60-year history that payments have halted due to a government shutdown. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, accuses the USDA of violating federal law by withholding funds that Congress has already made available to ensure families can afford food. A hearing is set for Thursday to determine whether the agency must release contingency funds to keep benefits flowing. Meanwhile, the USDA insists the "well has run dry," blaming the ongoing shutdown for the funding freeze. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT