John,
The Trump administration has a clear choice: take action―which they are authorized to do!―or millions are at risk of hunger next month.
Instead of using dedicated contingency funds and other authorized measures to get SNAP benefits to local communities1, the administration is holding back on measures to ensure states and localities can disburse SNAP benefits next month―the lack of which would be catastrophic. Nearly 1 in 8 people, including 16 million children and 8 million people with disabilities, would go without the food assistance they need.2 In the wealthiest country in the world, this is unacceptable.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration, via the United States Department of Agriculture, moved $300 million to WIC, the nutrition program that serves women, infants, and children.3 It’s time for the administration to do the same for SNAP, especially since people across the country are facing rising grocery costs.
Send a message to Congress urging them to demand that the Trump administration fund SNAP through the shutdown.
SEND A MESSAGE
October’s SNAP benefits were funded in September from money appropriated in fiscal year 2025.4 Now, even as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has SNAP contingency funds at its disposal, Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture has warned states that they should not expect SNAP payments starting in November.5 Millions of families rely on SNAP, and advocates nationwide are working to ensure benefits continue without interruption. Feeding families is a federal responsibility, and we are pushing USDA to act quickly and transparently.
All of this is happening on top of the most significant cut to SNAP in the program's history. Cuts to SNAP not only increase food insecurity but also shift costs to local governments and charities, which cannot fully meet the need. For example, while emergency food programs help, they provide only one meal for every nine that SNAP provides6 Proposed cuts would result in waiting lists while further straining food banks.
There is no time to waste. Congress must tell the Trump administration to tap lawfully available funds to keep SNAP running until the shutdown is over.
Send a message to Congress today urging them to demand Trump fully fund SNAP throughout the shutdown.
Thank you for all you do,
Meredith Dodson,
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action
1 Political Will and Administrative Priorities
2 The Trump Administration Can and Should Take Available Steps to Ensure SNAP Participants Get November Food Benefits
3 USDA tells lawmakers WIC will be funded through October
4 Lapse of Funding Plan
5 Food Stamp Benefits May Run Out in November, Officials Warn
6 Food Bank Legislative Agenda 2024: Speaking up to fight hunger
-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --
John,
Millions of people risk losing basic food assistance via SNAP if the government shutdown continues.
The Big Ugly Bill already imposed the largest SNAP cut in the program's history, and now, with the shutdown, millions more are at risk of losing access to the nutrition program when funding is depleted in two weeks. Governors are sounding the alarm that they will not be able to get SNAP benefits to their constituents next month, and things have become so dire that 17 states have stopped processing new SNAP applications.1
SNAP has never failed to make payments, even during previous shutdowns. But now, Donald Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins are threatening to withhold SNAP funds from states instead of utilizing SNAP’s contingency funds and other measures to help families purchase food.
Send an urgent message to Congress demanding they act and tell the White House to release SNAP funding to the states so people can continue to have access to food during the government shutdown.
SEND A MESSAGE
It doesn’t have to be this way. Two-thirds of the money needed to fund another month is in SNAP’s contingency fund, which must be used when regular funding falls short. The contingency fund has $6 billion, which is still short of the $8 billion needed to fully fund SNAP recipients per month.2 But there are other funds that USDA can legally tap to cover benefits―there is no reason to deny SNAP to families who depend on it.3
SNAP is not only our most effective anti-hunger program; it plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving health and economic outcomes. It’s also linked to better education outcomes and self-sufficiency and is vital in supporting rural communities.4 The Trump administration and USDA can act to reduce hunger. This is a choice―the administration has the authority to use contingency funds to keep SNAP running, as it has done during previous shutdowns.5
Congress must demand that the Trump administration release contingency funds AND add lawful funding sources in order to protect November SNAP benefits before 42 million people run out of food.
Send a message to Congress now, urging them to demand the White House utilize available funds allowed by law to pay SNAP benefits.
Thank you for all you do,
Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action
1 Millions of Americans are at risk of losing food stamps next month amid shutdown
2 Food Stamp Benefits May Run Out in November, Officials Warn
3 The Trump Administration Can and Should Take Available Steps to Ensure SNAP Participants Get November Food Benefits
4 SNAP Supports Rural Families
5 Political Will and Administrative Priorities
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