Schumer, Dems call ‘bull—-‘ on Trump administration over food stamp shutdown threat
In a heated exchange over the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Democrats are criticizing Republicans and the Trump administration for claiming that federal food stamp benefits, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are running out of funds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a memo warning that SNAP funding could be exhausted by November 1 due to the shutdown, despite the existence of an emergency contingency fund of approximately $5 billion. The USDA contended that these funds are not “legally available,” igniting a fierce debate among lawmakers. During a press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) highlighted that the Trump administration had previously funded SNAP during the last government shutdown in 2019, asserting, “They funded it under Trump in the last shutdown. So, don’t believe the bull.”
The political landscape surrounding this issue is complex, with both Senate Republicans and Democrats attempting to navigate the impending SNAP funding cliff, which threatens to impact 42 million Americans. While Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) emphasized the need for a comprehensive solution to reopen the government, he rejected piecemeal funding proposals. In contrast, Schumer indicated support for bipartisan efforts, including a bill from Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) aimed at not only funding SNAP but also the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Luján criticized the administration for backtracking on its previous commitment to fund SNAP, stating, “It’s bull—-,” and drawing attention to the real consequences of potential hunger for millions of Americans.
As discussions continue, the situation remains precarious, with House Democrats, led by Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), urging the Trump administration to access the SNAP emergency fund before the deadline. Neguse pointed out that the administration has a legal obligation to release these funds, which has led to ongoing litigation in federal court. However, Senate Republicans maintain that the best way to address the funding crisis is to reopen the government entirely, a stance that has seen significant pushback from Democrats who argue that Republicans are using vulnerable families as leverage in the political standoff. Schumer has accused Republicans of holding SNAP funding hostage, insisting that they have the power to resolve the crisis immediately. As the shutdown drags on, the urgency to protect food assistance for millions of Americans grows, highlighting the stark realities faced by those reliant on government support during this tumultuous period.
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Senate Democrats railed against Republicans and the Trump administration’s argument that the well had run dry on federal food stamp benefits given that President
Donald Trump
funded the program during the last shutdown.
Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned in a memo that because of the ongoing shutdown and lack of appropriations, funding for food stamps, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), would run out by Nov. 1.
Despite there being an emergency contingency fund of roughly $5 billion, the USDA argued that the emergency funding was not “legally available.”
SENATE GOP DIVIDED AS MILLIONS RISK LOSING FOOD AID IN SHUTDOWN STANDOFF
However, Senate Minority Leader
Chuck Schumer
, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats argued at a press conference on Wednesday that Trump had funded SNAP during the last government shutdown in 2019. Sonny Perdue, Trump’s agriculture secretary at the time, announced that SNAP funding would be available while Washington was still in the throes of that partial government shutdown.
“They funded it under Trump in the last shutdown,” Schumer said. “So, don’t believe the bull.”
A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget told Fox News Digital that “Democrats chose to shut down the government knowing full well that SNAP would soon run out of funds. It doesn’t have to be this way, and it’s sad they are using the families who rely on it as pawns.”
Both Senate Republicans and Democrats have made legislative efforts to avert the
SNAP funding cliff
, which, if not avoided on Saturday, would see 42 million people lose their food benefits.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., doubled down on his stance against one-off bills, or so-called “rifle shots” that would fund certain programs or pay some federal workers, which lawmakers have been pushing in the background.
STATES SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER BILLIONS IN LOOMING CUTS TO SNAP, FOOD STAMPS
“I think that the quickest way to end it is to just open everything up and then everybody gets paid,” Thune said. “You’re not picking winners and losers or having to explain to this group why you open it up to this group. I mean, that just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Schumer said
Senate Democrats
would support bills from both Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., that would fund the program. Lujan’s bill, which was announced earlier this week, would also fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Luján argued that the administration had changed course from a previous plan that would have seen SNAP funded.
“It’s bull—-,” he said. “I’ll say, I come from a small farm, I know the difference of good soil and the bull—- that goes in. And this is the bull—- taking these plans down to try to lie to the American people and justify why it’s OK for people to go hungry, 40 million people.”
It’s not clear, meanwhile, whether the same appetite for such legislation exists in the House.
Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., led a press conference alongside Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee to demand the Trump administration tap into the SNAP emergency fund before Nov. 1.
TRUMP ADMIN WARNS 42 MILLION AMERICANS COULD LOSE FOOD STAMPS AS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON
When asked by Fox News Digital whether he was coordinating with the Senate on either the GOP or Democrat-led bills, Neguse said, “I’m familiar with the proposals, and I know that many of my colleagues … have proposed legislation here in the House as well. Those conversations will continue.”
But ,”ultimately,” he said, “legislation doesn’t need to be passed in order for these funds to be released. It is the law.”
“The Trump administration is required to release those funds today. That is why the administration is now embroiled in federal litigation in federal court, in Massachusetts, that I ultimately think will be successful,” Neguse said.
Still,
Senate Republicans
argue that the best path forward to avert the SNAP funding cliff, along with other upcoming paydays and deadlines, was to reopen the government. So far, Schumer and Senate Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government as the shutdown inches toward shattering the 35-day record etched into the history books in 2019.
It runs counter to the congressional Democrats’ previously held position, too. For example, in 2023, when lawmakers were again tasked with averting another shutdown, Schumer warned that if funding was not extended, millions of New Yorkers would go without food benefits.
Schumer shifted blame for the ongoing shutdown and the likelihood that SNAP benefits will run dry to Republicans.
“We are saying the Republicans can fund it now, and they’re using these people as hostages, plain and simple next, that’s the answer,” Schumer said. “The answer is they can fund it right now.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
