Political Gridlock: Who's to Blame for the SNAP Funding Crisis?

USATue Nov 04 2025
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The government shutdown is causing real problems, especially with SNAP food assistance. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pointing fingers at President Trump and Republicans, saying they're using hungry Americans as pawns. He's not happy about partial benefits being handed out, especially with Thanksgiving coming up. Schumer also took a jab at Trump for remodeling the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom while Americans worry about health care costs. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune isn't budging on Trump's push to change the filibuster rule. Thune made it clear that there aren't enough votes to make that happen. He even joked about Trump's repeated calls to change the rule, saying it's no surprise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is also pushing back, saying Democrats aren't to blame for the SNAP funding lapse. He wants the administration to use emergency funds, just like they did to bail out a foreign leader. Jeffries is demanding that no American should go hungry because of political games. The Trump administration is saying it will take weeks or even months to use emergency funds for SNAP. They're also $4 billion short of what's needed for November's benefits. A federal judge ordered them to fund SNAP, and Trump said he'd be happy to do it. But actions speak louder than words, and right now, the actions aren't adding up.