Nationwide — President Donald Trump has issued a new warning, declaring that he would block the release of SNAP food assistance unless Democrats agree to reopen the federal government. “SNAP benefits will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!” Trump wrote on social media — a statement that appeared to contradict federal court orders requiring the administration to release the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s contingency funds.
The dispute comes at a time when SNAP is critical to millions of Americans. More than 42 million people nationwide rely on SNAP every month, including low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and more than 20 million children. For many households, these benefits are the only consistent safeguard against hunger, helping cover basic groceries when wages, savings, or support networks fall short.
According to ABC 7, after Trump’s comments sparked alarm among advocates and beneficiaries, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the administration is still issuing SNAP payments in accordance with the court’s direction. Still, legal experts warn that the president’s statements inject confusion into a system already strained by the government shutdown.
With House Speaker Mike Johnson having sent lawmakers home in September, pressure has shifted almost entirely to the Senate. There, a small bipartisan coalition of centrist negotiators has been working behind the scenes to map out a path forward. Their talks represent one of the few active efforts to end the impasse and protect the flow of assistance.
“We pray that today is that day,” said Johnson, R-La., during his daily briefing from the largely deserted House side of the Capitol. But for millions of SNAP recipients — many of whom already face rising grocery prices and shrinking emergency savings — the uncertainty has renewed fears about food security and the government’s responsibility to safeguard essential nutrition aid.