The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, is the largest federal nutrition-assistance program in the U.S.

The USDA has accused Democrats of voting “12 times to not fund” Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP, or food stamps — is a key benefits program that serves more than 40 million people across the country. Now, the shutdown is threatening to temporarily suspend benefits, raising concerns over where millions of people who rely on the program will turn to for food.

A coalition of states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from suspending food aid benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.

More than two dozen Democratic state leaders are suing the Department of Agriculture after the Trump administration said it would not use emergency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, the prospect of November's SNAP benefits going unpaid indefinitely is growing closer.

The lawsuit argues the USDA is legally required to continue providing SNAP benefits during the shutdown as long as it has funding.

With benefits expected to run out Saturday because of the government shutdown, Democratic leaders of 25 states allege that the USDA is required to keep providing funds.

The Democratic officials contend the administration is legally required to keep benefits going as long as it has funding.

The government has confirmed that the food assistance payments will stop on November 1 as a result of the ongoing shutdown.