"Our state of mind is pretty clear. We're going to win this lawsuit," said Gov. Gavin Newsom as he and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Calling the USDA's suspension of SNAP benefits next month "needless" and "cruel."
"Families will be forced to turn to state and local governments, community organizations for the food assistance they need. None of which are ready to fill the massive hole the SNAP suspension creates," the Attorney General explained.
The hole left by SNAP is already weighing heavily in the Central Valley.
William Gibbs from the Merced County Food Bank is gearing up for a tough holiday season.
Turkeys have been priced out of the menu this year, so the food bank has been forced to hand out chickens instead.
"The holidays are a very special time for all the families, and we try to make that as comfortable as we can, but it's been more difficult this year than it's been in the past," Gibbs said.
Also at the center of this congressional back and forth are Valley families doing their best to keep food on the table.
Alex Cristobal was at the grocery store buying food with his family, but it wasn't for themselves.
"We're downloading all these apps, Instacart, doing these deliveries, trying to get a little extra money for our family, help us out throughout these times," Cristobal said.
On top of his construction job, he is delivering groceries to lessen the blow of potentially losing SNAP, stretching himself thin to make sure his wife and four-month-old daughter are fed.
SNAP benefits expire in just four days on November 1.
While the Senate's vote to fund the government failed for the 13th time earlier Tuesday, there seems to be no end in sight to the government shutdown.