President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that full funding for the nation’s largest food assistance program will return only when, in his view, “Radical Left Democrats” agree to reopen the government.
Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), arguing that benefits were distributed too broadly during former President Joe Biden’s tenure and that such policies drove costs sharply upward.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly ‘handed’ to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!” Trump wrote.
His message came as SNAP funding approached expiration over the weekend, with the shutdown now stretching into its second month.
On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., suggested that the looming funding lapse would not be enough to pressure Democrats into supporting the GOP’s spending proposal. When asked if approving the Republican funding bill was the most practical solution, Jeffries responded, “No.”
Later that day, the Trump administration informed a federal judge that it would partially resume SNAP benefits for November despite the ongoing shutdown. The timeline for those payments — and the exact amount recipients will receive — remains uncertain.
According to a sworn declaration submitted to the court, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to use $4.65 billion of its $5 billion contingency fund to keep SNAP operational for November.
The program serves more than 40 million Americans and has faced intense scrutiny in recent months, both for its overall scale and for concerns raised by the administration regarding eligibility, including efforts to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving benefits.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins placed SNAP under early review, citing questions about oversight and recipient qualifications.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has also introduced legislation aimed at restoring federal funding for the Farm Service Agency and SNAP during the shutdown. The measure would provide additional support for farmers and food assistance programs.
“We need to start forcing Democrats to make some tough votes. We need to start holding their feet to the fire,” Hawley said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “I mean, do they really not want people to be able to eat? This situation is ridiculous.”
