US President Donald Trump has announced that food aid assistance for low-income Americans will only resume once the government shutdown comes to an end, appearing to defy two court orders directing him to provide emergency funding.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides nutrition assistance to one in eight Americans each month, was set to freeze on November 1 due to a lack of funds. However, Trump's announcement suggests that he may not release the necessary contingency funds until after the shutdown ends.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had ordered the federal government to cover SNAP benefits by drawing from emergency reserves, with one judge stating that "time is of the essence when it comes to hunger." The USDA has since said it will only partially fund the program, providing 50% of typical allotments to recipients, citing a cumbersome process.
The US government shutdown, now in its 35th day and equaling the longest in the country's history, entered into its final stretch with Tuesday's Senate vote on a stopgap funding measure falling short by just 10 votes. The stalemate has left over 42 million Americans reliant on food assistance without certainty about their benefits.
President Trump claimed that SNAP benefits were "haphazardly handed out" during the Biden administration and vowed to only resume them once government is reopened, sparking criticism from White House officials who claim the administration is "fully complying with court orders." The issue highlights the increasingly polarized nature of the shutdown, with Democrats accusing Republicans of deliberately harming families while Trump blames the opposition for using the spending bill as a negotiating tool.
As lawmakers struggle to reach an agreement, many are warning about the devastating consequences of inaction, including delayed benefits for vulnerable populations and rising hunger among low-income families.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides nutrition assistance to one in eight Americans each month, was set to freeze on November 1 due to a lack of funds. However, Trump's announcement suggests that he may not release the necessary contingency funds until after the shutdown ends.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had ordered the federal government to cover SNAP benefits by drawing from emergency reserves, with one judge stating that "time is of the essence when it comes to hunger." The USDA has since said it will only partially fund the program, providing 50% of typical allotments to recipients, citing a cumbersome process.
The US government shutdown, now in its 35th day and equaling the longest in the country's history, entered into its final stretch with Tuesday's Senate vote on a stopgap funding measure falling short by just 10 votes. The stalemate has left over 42 million Americans reliant on food assistance without certainty about their benefits.
President Trump claimed that SNAP benefits were "haphazardly handed out" during the Biden administration and vowed to only resume them once government is reopened, sparking criticism from White House officials who claim the administration is "fully complying with court orders." The issue highlights the increasingly polarized nature of the shutdown, with Democrats accusing Republicans of deliberately harming families while Trump blames the opposition for using the spending bill as a negotiating tool.
As lawmakers struggle to reach an agreement, many are warning about the devastating consequences of inaction, including delayed benefits for vulnerable populations and rising hunger among low-income families.
they gotta get food for people already fam 
snap is supposed to help those who need it most but now it's like trump is trying to starve america 
at least 42 million ppl are affected by this shutdown and it's getting ugly fast 
the fact that judges had to step in like "hey dude pay attention" because you're not even doing your job right is wild 
what's next gonna be food for thought 
. If the shutdown keeps going on, it's gonna be a disaster! 
! We can't just leave them hanging without certainty about their benefits 
.
. I mean, we've got a chart showing that hunger rates among low-income families have already increased by 20% since the shutdown started 
:
. Can we do this? 
president trump's decision to defy court orders and not resume snap benefits until after the shutdown ends is super unfair 
this is just so cruel, especially during the holiday season when families need stability the most 
... The fact that 42 million Americans are living with uncertainty about their food assistance is just heartbreaking 
. I hope someone can figure out a way to get this food assistance back on track ASAP 
️...
the us is literally one of the richest countries in the world and yet we're struggling with basic issues like food security. it's just not right.
newsflash: there are solutions out there if we're willing to listen and compromise. but until then, people will continue to suffer. my heart goes out to all those families struggling to get by...
... can you believe he's gonna stop it now?! 
we gotta do better than this. I mean, I know Trump said something about the Biden admin being haphazard, but come on, just give ppl food already! 
This is so unfair! Like, I get that there's gotta be some sort of compromise, but not at the expense of people's bellies 
. Those judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are right, time is of the essence when it comes to hunger, you know? 
One in eight Americans rely on SNAP for food, it's not something they can just cut off like a switch 
.
. The longer this shutdown goes on, the more people will be struggling to put food on the table 
. Can't we all just get along and find a solution that works for everyone? 
so in all seriousness fam the SNAP program affects 1/8 of americans and it's not just about being poor, it's about people struggling to put food on the table. the fact that trump is defying court orders and leaving ppl hangin' is wild 
. And what about all the people who are already struggling to get by? This shutdown is gonna make things even harder for them. I think Trump's being super short-sighted here and it's not right that he's prioritizing his own agenda over people's basic needs. We need some common sense and compassion on this issue, ASAP 
. And Trump's all like "I'm only reopening it when the government is back open" but what about those who can't afford to wait that long? 
. 42 million people are counting on their benefits and it's just...wow 
.
. It feels like both sides are just playing politics and it's affecting the people who need help the most 