SNAP Recipients Sue USDA Over Food Restriction Waivers in 22 States

House Agriculture Committee advances Farm Bill 34-17 without reversing $187 billion in SNAP cuts as food insecurity affects 47.9 million Americans.

SNAP Recipients Sue USDA Over Food Restriction Waivers in 22 States House Agriculture Committee advances Farm Bill 34-17 without reversing $187 billion in SNAP cuts as food insecurity affects 47.9 million Americans. March 13, 2026 Key Takeaways: Five SNAP recipients filed a federal lawsuit on March 12 challenging USDA-approved waivers that restrict what can be purchased with food benefits in 22 states. The lawsuit alleges the USDA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by approving restrictions without proper notice, public input, or evaluation methodology. One plaintiff's disabled daughter has an eating disorder that limits her to specific foods, some of which are now banned under her state's waiver. Five SNAP recipients filed suit in DC federal court on March 12 against the US Department of Agriculture. The lawsuit challenges food restriction waivers the USDA approved in 22 states that ban the purchase of candy, soda, energy drinks, and other items deemed low in nutritional value. The National Center for Law and Economic Justice filed the case on behalf of plaintiffs in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The lawsuit alleges the USDA exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by approving the waivers without following required protocols for public notice, input from affected recipients and retailers, or an effective evaluation process. Confusion on the Ground The restrictions vary by state, creating what the lawsuit describes as a patchwork that makes it nearly impossible for recipients and retailers to comply. One Iowa plaintiff described reading every ingredient list on every purchase to determine eligibility. A Tennessee plaintiff's daughter has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, a condi