CHICAGO – Illinois will avoid paying millions of dollars in potential federal penalties after a judge permanently blocked Trump administration sanctions linked to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The ruling in federal court secures state budget funds and confirms that lawful permanent residents remain eligible for SNAP food aid. Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a multi-state lawsuit after federal officials set retroactive compliance deadlines and attempted to cut off benefits for certain legal residents, including former refugees and asylum recipients.
The court determined those federal deadlines were unlawful and failed to give states the required time to adjust to changing rules. Raoul emphasized that protecting SNAP helps local families put food on the table while supporting neighborhood grocers and merchants who rely on SNAP transactions to fuel the regional economy.
By striking down the penalties, the decision prevents Illinois taxpayers from footing the bill for sudden federal sanctions. Illinois fought the policy alongside 20 other states and the District of Columbia to protect food access and state revenues.
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