Eighth Circuit Overturns Injunction Targeting Missouri SNAP System

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a portion of a summary judgment and an injunction that had been issued in favor of plaintiffs alleging systemic failures in Missouri’s SNAP program. The appellate judges concluded that the district court’s permanent injunction was overly broad, imposing statewide changes that extended beyond the interests of the specific plaintiffs. Although the appeals court affirmed the lower court’s rulings on due-process and Americans with Disabilities Act claims, it reversed the judgment on the SNAP Act claims, holding that Congress did not create a private right of action under that statute.

The ruling also rejected the argument that the plaintiffs, including three individuals and the advocacy group Empower Missouri, lacked standing, but found the organization’s alleged injury insufficient for standing. The case is now remanded for further action, with Missouri’s Department of Social Services, led by Jessica Bax, having challenged the original order. Attorneys for both sides presented arguments about standing and the scope of judicial relief, and the panel’s decision reflects a narrower view of federal remedies in SNAP-related litigation.