U.S. District Court issues a preliminary injunction blocking conditions placed on USDA grants
Washington is part of group of states challenging conditions placed on USDA programs including nutrition assistance.
A U.S. District Court Judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction in June that blocks United States Department of Agriculture grant guidelines that a group of state attorneys general argue are unconstitutional and unlawful.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is one of 21 attorneys general that are suing USDA arguing the agency threatened harsh penalties if states do not comply with vague and expansive funding conditions relating to immigration, diversity, equity, inclusion and gender identity, according to a press release from the Washington State Attorney General’s office issued in March.
The lawsuit asks the court to block USDA from applying these conditions on billions of dollars in funding including the school lunch program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
