Washington has joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require the agency to use contingency funding to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps.

The lawsuit comes as Gov. Bob Ferguson directed additional resources to food banks bracing for an influx in visitors as the ongoing government shutdown threatens to delay benefits to nearly a million Washingtonians.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Massachusetts, alleges the USDA is required to continue payments through the program during the ongoing shutdown as long as the agency has funds.

Last week, the agency notified states that it will not use contingency funds to pay for food stamps if the shutdown extends into November, and that it won’t reimburse state

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