TOPEKA, Kan. —

Gov. Laura Kelly and the State of Kansas have joined more than 20 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its decision to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The decision came during the ongoing government shutdown, which is now approaching a full month. Advertisement

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Massachusetts, argues that the USDA unlawfully halted SNAP payments for November despite having contingency funds available to keep the program running.

The filing says the move marks the first time since SNAP’s creation that monthly benefits would be delayed because of a lapse in federal appropriations.

Kelly says the suspension will harm more than 188,000 residents, including about 85,000 children and 38,

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