A federal judge has vacated the Trump administration’s rule that would have forced hundreds of thousands of Americans off food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rule change was capricious and arbitrary, Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said.
The USDA rule “radically and abruptly alters decades of regulatory practice,” Howell said in her ruling, adding that it would have “exponentially” increased food insecurity for tens of thousands of Americans and imposed significant costs on states.
The rule was originally set to take effect April 1, but Howell blocked it with a preliminary injunction in March, responding to requests from 19 states, the District of Columbia, the city of New York and other plaintiffs.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
