State files two new lawsuits against Trump administration over federal food and housing support

Washington state and 19 other states have filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration regarding federal food and housing assistance modifications. The initial lawsuit challenges the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for allegedly making illegal changes to its Continuum of Care grant program. These changes could limit funding for permanent housing and penalize providers who do not enforce strict anti-homeless laws, forcing them to recognize only two genders.

Governor Bob Ferguson emphasized that the HUD grant supplies Washington with $120 million annually, supporting residents like a Bellingham individual who found housing through the Opportunity Council. The second lawsuit, targeting the U. S. Department of Agriculture, seeks to block new guidance that renders several groups of legal immigrants ineligible for SNAP benefits. This guidance, enacted under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has been described as “abrupt and confusing,” risking food assistance for eligible individuals.

The lawsuits underscore significant concerns about policy changes that could negatively impact vulnerable populations, particularly in housing and food security. The outcomes of these cases could have lasting implications for federal assistance programs affecting many residents.