New York Attorney General Letitia James and attorneys general from 20 other states filed a lawsuit on March 23 against the Trump administration to challenge new funding conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The suit aims to block what they describe as vague and unlawful requirements that threaten billions of dollars in federal funding for state programs.
The issue centers on the USDA’s recently introduced “2026 Conditions,” which require states to comply with broad federal policies or risk losing crucial support for food assistance, agricultural research, and rural development. The coalition argues these new rules could disrupt programs that feed families, support farmers, and protect communities across New York and other states.
“The federal government cannot hold critical funding hostage to force states to comply with vague, ideological directives,” said Attorney General James. “These new conditions put essential programs at risk and cause chaos for states that rely on this funding to feed families, support farmers, and keep communities safe. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers and ensure they receive the resources they depend on.”
According to the lawsuit, nearly all USDA programs would be affected by these requirements—including nutrition initiatives like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), school lunch programs, emergency food assistance efforts such as TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), as well as agricultural grants supporting crop production and research at universities throughout New York. The coalition claims these conditions are unconstitutionally vague because they do not clearly define what conduct is prohibited or required.
James leads an office that promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy according to its official website. The agency protects residents by ensuring public safety, defending civil rights, upholding consumer protections, preserving the environment according to its official website, providing services such as fraud investigations and tenant dispute mediation according to its official website, operating regional offices statewide according to its official website, functioning as a public law enforcement agency under James’s leadership according to its official website.
Joining James in filing this lawsuit are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The coalition asks the court for an injunction preventing USDA from implementing or enforcing these contested conditions.
