“The loss of SNAP benefits leads to food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition. … Low-income children who go without nutritious food will struggle to learn in classrooms, impacting their educational performance and advancement. … Suspending SNAP benefits also has economic consequences beyond hunger and public health. Without SNAP funds, SNAP recipients will not be able to frequent retailers, causing a significant loss in revenue, increased food waste, and a negative impact on Plaintiff States’ economies overall.” — Lawsuit filed by 25 states against the Trump administration
While the federal government shutdown is nearing an end, America’s most crucial food assistance programs remain in limbo, threatening nutritional support for millions of families, children, and expecting mothers.
On Monday, the Trump administration continued pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower court decisions requiring the federal government pay for full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Later that day, a Massachusetts federal judge kept in place an order canceling a USDA memo to states over the weekend asking them to “undo” full November benefits, while chastising the administration.
SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) together support nearly 50 million Americans. These programs are lifelines, ensuring access to essentials like nutritious food, breastfeeding support, and infant formula. Yet both programs still await immediate action from the White House to use contingency funds and other already authorized measures, millions of vulnerable Americans will soon be without food assistance.
SNAP and WIC resources have remained available during past shutdowns. But state agencies are running out of options to keep families supported. SNAP still has two-thirds of the funding needed to sustain another month of benefits, in resources that are already available under the program’s emergency procedures.
Yet, the White House has chosen to challenge federal rulings and withhold some of the authorized funding sources to provide full benefit to families.
Earlier this month, the USDA funded WIC through the end of the month, though advocates warned it was only a short-term fix to keep the program afloat. Unless the administration relents, the WIC program will run out of money and more will needlessly face hunger and devastating health consequences. This is a policy choice, not an unavoidable consequence of the recently ended shutdown.
By refusing to act, the administration is choosing to inflict avoidable hardship on families already struggling with inflation, rising costs, and record food insecurity. Following the passage of the “Big Ugly Bill,” which imposed the largest SNAP cuts in history, even more Americans are now at risk of losing access to the nutrition assistance they rely on to survive.
For an administration that claims to champion the well-being of mothers, children, and working families, this move goes directly against the things it claims to stand for. Parents should not have to choose between paying bills and feeding their children. No mother should worry that her newborn might go hungry because of political leaders.
Congress must stand up for families. Send a message to lawmakers: they must demand that the White House follow the law by releasing available SNAP funds immediately and exercise its authority to transfer additional funding to WIC and SNAP. Families cannot wait. Americans need support now, not after the damage has been done.
Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.