U.S. Dept. of Agriculture v. Moreno

This case determines the constitutionality of section 3(e) of the Food Stamp Act, which, with certain exceptions, excludes from particpation in the food stamp program any household containing an individual who is unrelated to any other member of the household. Appellees in this case are individuals that have been excluded from the program solely because the persons in each group are not all related to one another.

The legislative classification here involved cannot be sustained, the classification being clearly irrelevant to the stated purposes of the Act and not rationally furthering any other legitimate governmental interest. In practical operation, the Act excludes, not those who are "likely to abuse the program." but, rather, only those who so desperately need aid that they cannot even afford to alter their living arrangements so as to retain their eligibility.

Equal Protection | The Rational Basis Test