The Legal Aid Society filed this class action lawsuit against the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) for their premature and unlawful termination of an additional work requirement waiver for 100,000 New York City SNAP recipients classified as Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). The ABAWD waiver had previously been approved by USDA to run through February 28, 2026, and was based on a “lack of sufficient jobs” in 61 New York counties, including the five boroughs of New York City. The USDA sought to terminate the waiver four months early, on November 1, 2025, giving recipients only 30 days to come into compliance with onerous work requirements. Molly Park, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Social Services, submitted a declaration in support of the lawsuit, attesting to the immense administrative burdens placed on DSS by USDA’s action.

On November 1, 2025, prior to a ruling in this case, a federal district court judge in Rhode Island enjoined the USDA from terminating any ABAWD waivers before their expiration dates in response to a similar challenge.