Ohio Congressional Democrats Press Attorney General Yost to Protect SNAP Benefits for Nearly 1.5 million Ohioans

Ohio Congressional Democrats Press Attorney General Yost to Protect SNAP Benefits for Nearly 1.5 million Ohioans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) led members of Ohio's Democratic congressional delegation in sending a letter to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, asking him why he has not taken legal action to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Ohioans after the Trump Administration announced it would unlawfully suspend the program.

The letter asks why Attorney General Yost has not joined or filed lawsuits to safeguard these essential benefits, which help nearly 1.5 million low-income Ohioans, including seniors, veterans, children, and people with disabilities, put food on the table.

"The Trump Administration's decision to deny Ohioans the food assistance they are legally entitled to is both unconscionable and unlawful," said Rep. Sykes. "Ohio families should not go hungry because of political gamesmanship in Washington. Attorney General Yost must stand up for the people of Ohio, not stand by while the federal government withholds benefits that Congress has already funded."

On October 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would suspend SNAP benefits due to a lack of funding, even though Congress had already appropriated $6 billion in contingency funds to ensure benefits continue uninterrupted, including during a government shutdown. This move directly contradicts USDA's own funding plan, which confirmed that multi-year contingency funds were available to sustain the program.

Several states, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations have filed lawsuits to compel the release of SNAP contingency funds and prevent millions of Americans from losing access to food assistance. Without similar action from the state of Ohio, vulnerable residents may be left without relief while other states' lawsuits proceed.

The letter signed by Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), asks Attorney General Yost to explain his refusal to pursue legal action and emphasizes the need to protect Ohioans' access to food assistance.

"In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, no one should go hungry," the members wrote. "Congress has appropriated and directed the Trump Administration to use this funding for SNAP - it's time the Administration is held accountable for failing to provide these essential benefits."

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

Background

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides critical food assistance to nearly 1.5 million Ohioans, including working families, children, veterans, and seniors. Congress appropriated $6 billion in SNAP contingency funds for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to ensure benefits would not lapse, even during a government shutdown. Despite this funding, the Trump Administration announced plans to suspend benefits starting November 1, putting millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Ohio families, at risk of losing access to the food assistance they depend on.