Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize states with millions of dollars in fines related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations:
“It is shameful that, yet again, we’ve had to force the Trump Administration to simply follow the law and let vulnerable Delawareans feed their families,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “We have had to sue this Administration more than 40 times this year alone, and we will continue to do so every time they threaten my constituents.”
On November 26, 2025, Attorney General Jennings joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration after it attempted to cut off SNAP benefits for tens of thousands of lawful permanent residents. On December 10, the administration reversed itself and issued new guidance, confirming that lawful permanent residents – including former refugees and asylees – remain eligible for SNAP benefits. Despite that reversal, the administration continued to threaten states with millions of dollars in fines, claiming that states had missed a required “grace period” for implementing the new guidance, even though the final guidance was not issued until December 10.
On December 15, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued an order temporarily blocking those penalties. The court’s decision prohibits the federal government’s efforts to impose severe financial penalties on states and protects the continued operation of SNAP programs while the case proceeds.