Amid the protracted US government shutdown, President Donald Trump on Friday issued a strong statement addressing the funding crisis for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), blaming “Radical Democrats” and Minority Leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer for the continued impasse.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” adding that he had instructed his administration’s lawyers to “ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
The US President went on to say that he would gladly approve funding for SNAP if allowed to do so—”it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding”—and urged the Democrats to “quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons”.
“If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW! Here is Cryin’ Chuck Schumer’s Office Number: (202) 224-6542,” the US President’s post concluded.
Trump’s post comes on the back of two court rulings on Friday, where judges from Massachusetts and Rhode Island both ordered the continued funding of SNAP.
The Massachusetts court ruled that the administration was required by law to use the previously appropriated contingency reserve fund for at least partial SNAP payments in November.
The Rhode Island court, meanwhile, issued a a Temporary Restraining Order on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release contingency money at the earliest.
While both orders were aligned in outcome and spirit—ordering the continued funding of SNAP—they came from separate courts handling different lawsuits, leading to Trump’s characterization of “conflicting opinions” that required clarification.
Why did SNAP funding dry up?
The US government shut down on October 1 due to an impasse between Republicans and Democrats. This shutdown led the USDA to state that it could not fund the regular November SNAP benefits because the annual appropriation for the program had lapsed.
SNAP (earlier known as food stamps) is the largest anti-hunger programme in the US, serving 41.7 million Americans.
Reportedly, as many as one in eight low-income Americans use SNAP every month, with monthly costs for the programme touching $8.5 to $9 billion.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
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