Washington, D.C. – Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman issued a statement today, following a hearing in Rhode Island State Council of Churches v. Rollins, in which Democracy Forward and co-counsel the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island urged the court to enforce its order that the Trump-Vance administration urgently provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments.

U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell Jr., citing the government’s abject failure to comply with his order to release payments for the 42 million people in America who rely on SNAP, ordered the enforcement for the first temporary restraining order (TRO) and entered a second TRO making clear that U.S. Department of Agriculture must immediately make full payments for November to states tomorrow for urgent release to SNAP beneficiaries. 

“Today is a major victory for 42 million people in America. The court could not be more clear – the Trump-Vance administration must stop playing politics with people’s lives by delaying SNAP payments they are obligated to issue,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “This immoral and unlawful decision by the administration has shamefully delayed SNAP payments, taking food off the table of hungry families. We shouldn’t have to force the President to care for his citizens, but we will do whatever is necessary to protect people and communities. We are honored to represent our brave clients and to have secured this major victory for those who deserve better than what this administration has done to them.”

Democracy Forward and the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island represent a broad coalition that has fought for this urgent relief including: municipalities: City of Albuquerque, New Mexico; City of Baltimore, Maryland; City of Central Falls, Rhode Island; City of Columbus, Ohio; City of Durham, North Carolina; City of New Haven, Connecticut; City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; City of Providence, Rhode Island; charitable and faith-based nonprofit organizations: Rhode Island State Council of Churches; Amos House; East Bay Community Action Program; Federal Hill House Association; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center; The Milagros Project; the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN); New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG); United Way of Rhode Island; business and union organizations: Main Street Alliance; Black Sheep Market in Greenville, South Carolina; and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 

On October 31, the court ordered the Trump-Vance administration to either fully fund November SNAP benefits or ensure that any partial payments be issued expeditiously, given the severe and irreparable harm caused when people go without food. Instead of doing so, the administration informed the court earlier this week that it would only partially pay benefits — and that those partial benefits may take weeks or even months to go out — leaving millions of people in America without the nutrition they need and that the law requires. 

The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Kristin Bateman (who argued today’s motion), Jyoti Jasrasaria, Michael Torcello, Andrew Bookbinder, Adnan Perwez, Robin Thurston, and Skye L. Perryman. 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.