A federal judge has blocked one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) actions against Minnesota that could have cut off the state’s food assistance program, as tensions between the state and federal government escalate.

On Jan. 14, the U.S. District Court for Minnesota granted a preliminary injunction blocking the USDA from requiring the state to interview and recertify nearly 100,000 households that receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The agency had threatened to cut off all administrative funding to the state failing that review.

States are already required to regularly recertify SNAP households. The state agency that oversees the program said meeting the USDA directive from USDA would have been challenging and burdensome under the deadline.

The USDA directive coincides with ongoing political turmoil in Minnesota, as federal agents conduct immigration sweeps in the state. It also follows an increased national focus on alleged fraud from recipients of federal nutrition assistance.

In December, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the former Democratic nominee for vice president. It gave the state 30 days to complete recertifications, including in-person interviews, of SNAP recipients in four counties.

In response, the state attorney general filed a lawsuit against USDA challenging the legality of the demand. At a hearing, an attorney representing USDA said it had already cut off administrative funds, but this week’s injunction prevents that from happening, according to the state attorney’s office.

But other challenges to the state SNAP program are mounting.

On Jan. 9, Rollins sent a second letter to the state stating that the agency would pull all active and future “awards” from USDA to the state. This includes a total of $129.18 million, according to the letter. In order to free up the affected funds, the state needs to provide USDA with payment justifications for every federal dollar spent since the start of the Trump administration.

In both letters, Rollins states this action is due to instances of fraud in the state. But it comes as Republicans and the Trump administration have dramatically escalated federal operations in Minnesota. In recent weeks, the administration has sent waves of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers into the state, which has led to mass protests and the shooting death of Renee Good. The increased ICE presence has also had an impact on Minnesota food and farming communities.

“There is relentless proof of fraudulent use of tax dollars, and the letter is clear,” a USDA spokesperson said in an email to Civil Eats. “Minnesota must defend via payment justifications any USDA award dollars flowing through the State.”

The spokesperson did not address a question over whether SNAP benefits or administrative funds fall under the awards to be frozen.

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, which oversees SNAP, said in an email it did not have additional clarification or detail on how the program will be impacted by USDA action. On its website, the state agency said it is working with local partners to understand the potential implications.

On average, 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP each month for a daily allotment of $5.46, according to the state agency. There are already anti-fraud steps in place in SNAP, like regular checks. USDA also has procedures in place to reach out to states with recurring errors to resolve the issue.

“The first step is never cutting funding,” said Katie Deabler, senior attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. “We’re in totally uncharted waters and it frankly seems like the administration is making this up as they go along.”

Deabler said no one knows for sure if USDA will withhold upcoming SNAP benefits to Minnesota, and she’s unaware of practical mechanisms to do this. In the end, pulling benefits would just harm SNAP recipients, she said.

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