Copyright Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two of New York’s top elected officials are calling on the federal government to maintain crucial food assistance programs amid the ongoing shutdown. On Thursday, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to demand that President Donald Trump fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Earlier this month, the federal government directed states to withhold issuing such benefits for the month of November unless the government shutdown has been resolved and funding for federal agencies has been reinstated. However, the lawmakers claim that there are billions of dollars in contingency funds available to keep the programs running, but that the Trump administration has simply chosen not to tap into them. “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 Schumer. “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,” Gillibrand added. State leaders from various Democrat-led states have sued the federal government over its refusal to use contingency funds to maintain the programs. But an Oct. 24 memo from the United States Department of Agriculture, which oversees the programs, claims that contingency funds are “not legally available to cover regular benefits.” “Democrats have refused to pass the CR and fund regular monthly benefits for fiscal year (FY) 2026. SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists,” the memo adds. As that legal battle continues, Democratic lawmakers are pushing the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, which would require the federal government to maintain the programs and reimburse states for covering the costs of the benefits during the shutdown. “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,” Schumer said. The administration has repeatedly blamed Democrats’ refusal to end the shutdown for the looming halt on the food assistance programs. “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance," according to the USDA website. Earlier this month, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis called on Schumer and Gillibrand to deliver the votes necessary to end the government shutdown, which began Oct. 1 after representatives were unable to reach an agreement while passing a bill to allocate funds. Republicans proposed a short-term funding bill through Nov. 21, but many Democrats argued that it failed to address critical health care concerns. Specifically, Democrats are pushing to reverse Medicaid cuts included in President Donald Trump’s summer legislation and to extend tax credits that help millions afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Republicans dismissed the demands, estimating the cost to taxpayers would exceed $1 trillion. As of now, both sides remain firm and without compromise. “There is no reason for this to continue and we call on Senator Schumer to do the right thing, vote for the same bill you voted for four times before, the same bill that you negotiated and you’ve extended three times,” she said. Last week, Malliotakis penned a letter to Hochul urging her to call on Schumer and Gillibrand to help put an end to the shutdown before SNAP benefits are impacted later this week. “Starting November 1st, low-income, elderly, and disabled SNAP recipients could begin to go without food assistance as a result of Senate Democrats’ decision to shut the government down. These benefits are not abstract figures, they represent families striving to make ends meet, children who rely on consistent access to healthy food, and seniors who would otherwise face hunger,” wrote Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn. “We respectfully urge you to use your voice and leadership to encourage Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to support a clean continuing resolution that keeps the federal government funded at existing levels. Doing so will ensure that programs, like SNAP and WIC, continue uninterrupted, protecting New York’s most vulnerable residents and preventing needless hardship for families who can least afford it,” she continued.
