Overview
- U.S. District Judge Myong Joun granted a preliminary injunction on Friday, June 5, 2026, stopping the USDA from withholding funds under the challenged conditions while the lawsuit proceeds.
- Twenty Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia sued the USDA in March, arguing the agency exceeded its power and violated the Constitution’s Spending Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act by adding new, unrelated conditions to statutory grant programs.
- The disputed requirements told states to certify compliance with federal 'policies' on topics such as gender ideology, immigration and fair athletic opportunities for women and girls, and plaintiffs say the rules are vague and not tied to nutrition or agriculture statutes.
- The administration defended the measures as needed to strengthen oversight and root out fraud, citing recent USDA reviews, and the government has opposed the injunction as litigation and likely appeals continue and the judge prepares a written memorandum.
- The case directly affects major programs that feed people: SNAP serves about 39 million Americans, school lunch programs reach roughly 30 million children, and WIC serves infants and mothers, so the ruling temporarily protects those benefits from being conditioned on the new policies.