SNAP Benefits Need Extension Immediately – People Who Can’t Afford Food Shouldn’t Be Political Pawns: Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Malliotakis In Agreement

SNAP Benefits Need Extension Immediately – People Who Can’t Afford Food Shouldn’t Be Political Pawns: Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Malliotakis In Agreement

Editor’s note: As readers of our previous article on this topic are aware, the president has the power to direct the USDA to utilize the emergency contingency fund that exists for purposes such as this, and has enough funds in it to cover SNAP benefits for all recipients for the month of November.  The choice thus far has been made to not use them, but this could be changed at any time.  If it changes prior to publication, this will be updated.  We have been covering the shutdown extensively.  You can see most of the stories on this issue at this search link. 

 

Malliotakis Visits Staten Island Food Pantry, Pushes to Protect SNAP Benefits During Shutdown

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis visited ACT Care Foundation, a Staten Island food pantry that serves local senior citizens and families in need. During her visit, she discussed the importance of supporting food security programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which could be impacted if the federal government shutdown continues beyond October 31.

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans including 2.9 million New Yorkers and more than 121,000 residents in New York’s 11th Congressional District are set to be impacted starting November 1. Of those impacted, 31% are children, 29% are seniors, and 8% are individuals with disabilities. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Rep. Malliotakis is continuing her efforts to reopen government and protect critical programs that families rely on.

The House of Representatives passed a clean extension of funding levels negotiated and passed by the House and Senate four times since September 2024. However, only three Democrat Senators joined Republicans to vote for the bill in the Senate this time around, which has resulted in a government shutdown beginning October 1.

In addition to voting to keep the government open, Rep. Malliotakis is supporting H.R. 5822 – the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, introduced by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, which ensures SNAP benefits remain uninterrupted throughout the government shutdown.

“This preventable government shutdown is now creating unnecessary hardship for local grocery stores, food pantries and the families who depend on them. That’s why the House passed a clean funding bill with no partisan strings attached to keep these vital programs funded,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Now 42 million Americans, including 3 million New Yorkers, are at risk of seeing their SNAP benefits temporarily disrupted because Senate Democrats, led by our own Senator Schumer, have voted down this funding bill 13 times. It’s time for them to stop the political games, do the right thing, and simply vote for the same bill with the same language and funding levels he previously supported four times!”

“The government shutdown is devastating for our seniors. Many rely on SNAP just to keep food on the table, and without it, they’re forced to make impossible choices between eating, paying for medication, or covering rent. Our pantry is seeing the fear firsthand — people who’ve worked their whole lives now worrying about their next meal,” said ACT Cares Foundation Administrator Anne Marie Selfridge.

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND DEMAND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STOP CRUELLY DENYING SNAP BENEFITS, AND PUSH TO FULLY FUND SNAP & WIC TO STOP GOP-MANUFACTURED HUNGER CRISIS DURING TRUMP SHUTDOWN

 

Nearly 3 Million New Yorkers Rely On SNAP To Put Food On The Table, But Trump Is Now Denying Funding, Despite His Own USDA Saying They Could Keep Funds Flowing

 

Schumer and Gillibrand are pushing for legislation that would make sure SNAP & WIC continue uninterrupted during the Republican government shutdown

 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to demand the Trump administration stop cruelly withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). While Republicans continue to deny this vital assistance, despite having the ability to keep food assistance flowing, the senators announced they are pushing new legislation — the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 — to continue these vital food programs for working families during the GOP shutdown.

“For the first time in history, a president, Donald Trump, is refusing to fund SNAP during a shutdown despite the fact that he has the available funds to keep it going. Forty-two million Americans, including nearly three million New Yorkers, will lose their SNAP benefits, not because the money’s gone, because Donald Trump cruelly ordered it stopped,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump is weaponizing hunger. He is using kids who rely on school meals, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans & families trying to get groceries as political pawns. If this administration can cough up $40 billion for Argentina, they can fund SNAP from existing funds to stop American families from going hungry. Senate Democrats are not waiting, we are ready to pass legislation to ensure food continues to keep SNAP & WIC funded, and so kids, moms, seniors and veterans aren’t left behind. We are willing to work with anyone to get this bill on the floor and stop this cruelty and avert this avoidable crisis.”

“In refusing to fund SNAP during the government shutdown, the Trump administration is playing politics with my constituents’ lives. But for families that are already stretched thin, this decision is more than political—it’s a matter of survival,” said Senator Gillibrand. “SNAP is a lifeline for nearly 3 million New Yorkers, and we must make sure that these critical benefits remain available to the families that rely on them to put food on the table. That’s why I’m demanding that the Trump administration use the funding at their disposal to fund SNAP without delay.”

SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States, providing an average of $187 per month in food aid to over 42 million people nationwide—including nearly 3 million New Yorkers. Despite having billions of dollars ready and available to pay for SNAP in a contingency fund, the Trump administration is refusing to tap into this fund. Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand called on the administration to immediately make this money available to help keep SNAP benefits flowing until the government reopens.

Despite having billions of dollars ready and available to pay for SNAP, the Trump administration continues to withhold available funds and play politics with the ability of Americans across the country to put food on the table. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had a plan to release SNAP contingency funds, but Trump forced the USDA to abandon their shutdown contingency plan, making this Saturday the first time in American history SNAP benefits will lapse for hungry children, veterans, seniors, and other Americans.

Schumer and Gillibrand are demanding Republican leadership allow the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 to come for a full vote, which would ensure that SNAP and WIC benefits continue uninterrupted during this Republican shutdown. The legislation additionally requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP and WIC benefits for the duration of the shutdown. The senators also joined 44 other Democrats in a letter to the Trump administration demanding that they immediately release the billions of dollars at their disposal to fund SNAP.

Since the beginning of his term, Trump has targeted food assistance for hungry Americans. Earlier this year, Trump already gutted nearly $200 billion from SNAP in the Republican “Big, Beautiful Bill,” and canceled $1 billion in food assistance for schools and food banks.

The text of the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 is available here.

The text of Schumer and Gillibrand’s letter to the Trump administration is available here.

Banner Image: Rep. Malliotakis visits ACT Care Foundation. Image Credit – Rep. Malliotakis