Democrats accuse Trump admin, GOP of weaponizing hunger amid legal battle over SNAP benefits
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday accused the Trump administration of choosing to “weaponize hunger” during the ongoing government shutdown, citing the dispute over payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves tens of millions of low-income Americans.
A federal judge over the weekend blocked the administration’s plan to freeze billions in SNAP funding, which was set to run out Saturday, ordering the use of contingency funds to maintain benefits.
“It’s very unfortunate that Donald Trump and Republicans have decided to weaponize hunger and withhold SNAP benefits,” Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson responded on Fox News Sunday, blaming Democrats for voting 14 times against reopening the government. “Real people are losing. The American people are hurting,” Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said.
Despite the court order, delays in SNAP payouts are expected to put millions of Americans struggling to cover their grocery bills in a pinch.
The fallout from the shutdown continues to ripple across the country. Federal workers have gone a month without pay, and major airports are experiencing mounting flight delays and cancellations due to staffing shortages.
Despite mounting concerns, including over food assistance issues, there is still no end in sight to the stalemate over government funding.
For his part, President Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend that he would provide the SNAP funding but sought further legal guidance after his administration had argued the shutdown restricted access to the funds.
“It will be my honor to provide the funding, just like I did with military and law enforcement pay,” he wrote.
Mr. Trump has moved tens of billions of dollars around to ensure members of the military and law enforcement agents continued to get paid during the shutdown.
U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell gave the administration until Monday to detail its plan for funding SNAP.
Some governors and mayors have used local funds to support the program, which feeds roughly 42 million Americans.
Frustrated with the stalemate, Mr. Trump last week called on Republicans to scrap the Senate filibuster rules that prevent most legislation from advancing unless it has the support of at least 60 senators.
“Don’t be WEAK AND STUPID. FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! WIN, WIN, WIN!” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social, warning Republicans that Democrats would eliminate filibuster rules if they regain the Senate majority. “We will immediately END the Extortionist Shutdown, get ALL of our agenda passed, and make life so good for Americans that these DERANGED DEMOCRAT politicians will never again have the chance to DESTROY AMERICA!”
Meanwhile, the blame game continues.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the most straightforward path to funding SNAP benefits is to get five Democratic senators to vote with Republicans to reopen the government.
“Democrats are in the middle of a civil war, and they should just open the government. That is the easiest way to do this,” he said.
— This article is based in part on wire reports.
