Leader Schumer Floor Remarks In Support Of Legislation To Keep SNAP Funded And Avoid The Republicans’ Manufactured Hunger Crisis During The Government Shutdown

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of Senator Luján’s request for unanimous consent on legislation to keep SNAP funded so over 40 million Americans can continue to receive this vital service through the Republican shutdown. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

In a few minutes, my good colleague from New Mexico, Senator Luján, will be offering a unanimous consent request. I want to thank him for his extraordinary leadership on the issue of SNAP, leading the way on an urgent issue for millions of Americans.

Right now, we’re staring down two crises at once: a healthcare crisis and a hunger crisis. And both are caused by and intensified by one man and one man only: Donald Trump. We’re now three days from away from open enrollment. And now, for the first time in history, a president is refusing to fund SNAP during a shutdown.

Forty-two million Americans – young children who need food, veterans who might have PTSD and need help, senior citizens who rely on SNAP to help feed themselves, people who are out of work because they lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and so many others need SNAP. And why are we not doing it? Not because the money’s gone, it’s there. Not because it’s not permitted, it’s legal. But because Donald Trump ordered it stopped. It falls on his shoulders.

Let’s be clear: this does not need to happen. Never before – under any president, Republican or Democrat – has SNAP been cut off during a shutdown. Only Donald Trump is doing it, and the Republican leadership is going along with Donald Trump to let SNAP expire.

Trump did this once before. In 2019, he funded SNAP during his last shutdown. Back then, Trump kept SNAP funded. This time, he’s deliberately pulling the plug, even though in September he said he would fund it and could fund it, independent of any shutdown.

Trump is weaponizing hunger. He is using kids and parents as pawns. Donald Trump is a vindictive politician and a heartless man.

Just a few weeks ago, Trump’s own USDA confirmed it had $6 billion in emergency funds ready to keep food and aid flowing. When asked about SNAP, Trump assured everyone that it will be fine. He said it. Then suddenly, last Friday, Trump ordered USDA to delete the plan, take it off their website, and refuse to use the money. No reason. No explanation. Just cruelty.

Two-thirds of SNAP recipients are kids, seniors, or people with disabilities. That’s who Trump is cutting off – kids who rely on school meals, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans trying to get by, families trying to get groceries. That’s the real-world consequence of Trump’s decision.

And while he’s manufacturing two crises here at home, where is his focus? Overseas, on a ballroom, on sending $40 billion to Argentina. There's money for Argentina, but not for SNAP – and the Argentina money far exceeds the money needed for SNAP for at least a whole month.

Every president before him – Democrat and Republican – has used these same funds to keep families fed. Trump could fix this today with one stroke of his pen. We don't have to wait. We don't have to discuss. We don't have to deliberate.

Let’s be clear: Republicans have been on a crusade against SNAP all year. They slashed it by a historic $200 billion this summer in their so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. And now they’re doubling down, using this shutdown to devastate families and leave kids hungry. It’s heartless, it’s cynical, and it’s wrong.

Well, Senate Democrats are not waiting. And that’s why I am so grateful for Senator Luján. In a few minutes, we will force a vote to avert this avoidable crisis.

I thank Senator Luján, I thank him for championing the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, which will make sure 42 million Americans don’t lose their benefits. It will make sure 7 million moms and babies on WIC aren’t left behind. It’s simple. It’s moral. It’s urgent. And if the other side doesn't block it, I bet it will pass overwhelmingly. And there’s another bill by Senator Hawley, a conservative. I believe it has 11 Republican cosponsors already. So, its another bill that could pass. It doesn't have WIC, but it does have SNAP.

Democrats are ready to do what every president in American history has done except for Trump – avert this problem. We are willing to work with anyone to get this bill on the floor and stop this cruelty. But right now, unfortunately, Senate Republicans are frozen – paralyzed by fear or cynicism – while enabling Trump to use millions of hungry Americans as political hostages.

Senate Republicans should let this bill pass.

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