PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Tuesday that the state is among 25, plus the District of Columbia, in suing the federal government, alleging that the suspension of food stamps and nutrition assistance is illegal.

The lawsuit comes on day 28 of the ongoing government shutdown and on the heels of news that November SNAP benefits are on hold .

More than 40 million Americans, including nearly one million Arizonans, benefit from the food assistance program. In Gila and Apache counties, half of the families rely on SNAP benefits, according to state officials.

It alleges that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended the benefits despite having enough money to fund all, or a large portion, of them.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture

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