House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrat-led states Thursday after they filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over attempts to determine how many undocumented immigrants receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Speaking alongside USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Johnson accused Senate Democrats of putting political theater above feeding American families as the government shutdown reached its 31st day. “They sued the USDA for asking, simply asking, how many illegal aliens are on the programs in California, New York, and these other states,” Johnson said. He added that Democrats have voted 14 times to block a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government and restore SNAP funding, which expired earlier this week. Johnson called the shutdown a “manufactured crisis” used for political gain while millions of Americans struggle to afford groceries.

The lawsuit, led by Maine’s Democratic governor and joined by 21 blue states and the District of Columbia, claims the USDA unlawfully suspended SNAP benefits during the shutdown. States including California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, along with governors from Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, joined the legal challenge. They argue the USDA has billions in contingency funds that could keep the program running without congressional approval. USDA officials countered that tapping those funds requires Congress to authorize funding, and blamed Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean bill for the lapse. USDA warnings in October stressed that benefits would end if Congress failed to act.

Judicial intervention followed, with U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordering emergency funds to temporarily restore SNAP payments, echoing a similar Massachusetts ruling allowing access to $5.3 billion in reserves. However, the funds do not cover the $9.2 billion needed for November benefits, and officials stressed that payments cannot continue without new legislation. The administration maintains that Congress must act to reopen the government and fully restore SNAP.