ST. PAUL — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and 22 other attorneys general sued the United States Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins on Tuesday, Oct. 28, alleging illegal suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown.

The USDA issued a notice Monday that SNAP benefits would not roll out on Nov. 1, saying the “well has run dry” and blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown. The lawsuit announced Tuesday asks for a temporary restraining order blocking the USDA from halting SNAP while the litigation proceeds.

The lawsuit argues that despite the USDA’s claim of insufficient funds, the agency has access to a contingency fund appropriated by Congress. The suit cites a Sept. 30 plan released by the USDA that allegedly said SNAP o

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