Trump vows to ‘fund SNAP as soon as possible’ if court allows, blasts Democrats over shutdown delay
In a recent statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has sought clarification from federal courts regarding the legality of releasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments amid the ongoing government shutdown. With the shutdown in its second week, uncertainty looms over the November distribution of benefits that assist approximately 42 million Americans. Trump indicated that government lawyers have expressed concerns about the legal authority to utilize existing funds for SNAP, especially in light of conflicting opinions from two courts regarding the matter. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring that Americans do not go hungry and criticized the Democrats for their role in prolonging the shutdown, urging them to take immediate action to reopen the government.
As the deadline for SNAP payments approaches, the urgency of the situation intensifies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has yet to confirm whether benefits will be issued without new court guidance, leaving many recipients in a state of uncertainty. Trump has called on food stamp beneficiaries to reach out to Senate Democrats, specifically targeting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to advocate for the reopening of the government. The president’s remarks reflect a broader narrative in which he blames Democrats for leveraging the shutdown for political gain, while Democrats counter that the White House has the power to resolve the impasse by approving a short-term spending bill that has already passed in the Senate. As the implications of the shutdown continue to unfold, the fate of SNAP payments hangs in the balance, highlighting the critical intersection of government funding and food security for millions of Americans.
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President Donald Trump said Friday his administration has asked
federal courts
to clarify whether it can legally release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments as the government shutdown continues.
In a statement
posted to Truth Social
, Trump said government lawyers had raised doubts about whether existing funds could be used for the November distribution and that two courts have issued conflicting opinions on the matter.
“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” 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.”
The president said he had instructed administration attorneys to ask the courts for clarification “as soon as possible.”
SCHUMER, DEMS CALL ‘BULL—-‘ ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FOOD STAMP SHUTDOWN THREAT
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” Trump added. “The
Democrats should quit this charade
where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Trump urged food stamp recipients to contact Senate Democrats, writing, “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.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides aid to about 42 million Americans each month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for the program depends on congressional appropriations, which have lapsed during the
current shutdown
.
USDA CHIEF WARNS ‘WE’RE RIGHT AT THE CLIFF’ AS 40 MILLION AMERICANS BRACE FOR FOOD STAMP CUTOFF
The president made his comments one day before the scheduled Nov. 1 payment date for many recipients. The USDA has not publicly confirmed whether benefits will be issued if the courts do not provide new guidance.
Trump has repeatedly accused Democrats of prolonging the shutdown to gain political leverage, while Democrats say the White House could reopen the government by signing a short-term spending bill already passed in the Senate.
In his post, Trump referenced his earlier actions to protect military and law enforcement paychecks during the standoff, calling it his duty to “ensure Americans don’t go hungry.”
No court filings related to SNAP funding had been publicly docketed as of Friday afternoon.
The White House referred Fox News Digital to President Trump’s Truth Social post when pressed for comment.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
