BALTIMORE — Maryland is among 21 states suing the Trump Administration over its threats to cut billions of dollars in USDA funding.
In December of 2025 USDA implemented new conditions on states receiving federal funding for a number of entitlement programs like food stamps (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC.
New USDA guidelines require states to comply with the Trump Administration's policies mandating that no federal tax-payer funds go towards covering undocumented migrants or programs promoting gender identity or DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has long fought the feds over their attempts to remove undocumented migrants from food stamp rolls. He's even tried withholding recipient information from the USDA to prevent potential immigration enforcement.
SEE ALSO: Maryland sues in attempt to withhold SNAP recipient info from feds
MORE: Maryland sues Trump over SNAP cuts for non-citizens
Brown claims the Administration's policies are vague and risk states being on the receiving end of "arbitrary enforcement."
This is notable considering a unanimous Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals last month ruled in favor of Trump regarding halts to other DEI related funding, based on the same argument of "vagueness."
Appellate Judge Albert Diaz, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, in that opinion wrote the following:
"The President may determine his policy priorities and instruct his agents to make funding decisions based on them. President Trump has decided that equity isn’t a priority in his administration and so has directed his subordinates to terminate funding that supports equity-related projects to the maximum extent allowed by law.”
Such resistance from the states prompted Congress to add guardrails to federal welfare programs like SNAP through Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.
For example, states now have less ability to waive work requirements for those receiving such benefits.
Starting in 2028 states with payment error rates over 6 percent will be responsible for up to 15 percent of food benefit costs.
For perspective, last year Maryland had a 13.64 error rate, 8.65 percent of which were over-payments, according to the USDA.
Similar problems were noted in an October 2022 state audit finding 86,479 ineligible households collecting SNAP payments.
Maryland receives approximately $2 billion of USDA funding annually covering around 900,000 households.
Like dozens of other lawsuits filed by Brown and his fellow Democratic State's Attorneys General, this latest one was brought in Massachusetts which has an overwhelming majority of judges appointed by former Democratic Presidents, who've proven friendly to the States only to be overturned occasionally on appeal.
When it comes to government grants and funding complaints, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Court of Federal Claims, not District Courts, have exclusive jurisdiction, a ruling that stemmed from a case filed in Massachusetts.
