WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders from 25 states are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the potential suspension of federal food assistance benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts Tuesday, argues that the USDA is legally obligated to continue distributing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, even without new appropriations.

Attorneys General from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin are part of the lawsuit. Governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania are also suing.

SNAP currently serves around 42 mil

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