On Friday, Democratic lawmakers, including Maryland’s Sen. Chris Van Hollen, voiced strong criticism towards the Trump administration after a federal judge mandated that emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) must be released due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The judge’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 25 states, led by Democrats, which argued against the administration’s claim that emergency funds could only be allocated for disasters like hurricanes or similar events. There was also a separate case brought by a coalition of city officials and private organizations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made available $5.25 billion in emergency funds. While this isn’t enough to cover the full $9 billion needed for food stamp benefits scheduled for November, the decision by U.S. District Judge John McConnell, an Obama appointee, will prevent a sudden halt in food assistance for millions starting this weekend.
In a letter, Van Hollen exclaimed, “Two federal judges just ruled that the Trump administration must utilize emergency funds to maintain SNAP benefits during the shutdown.” He shared his thoughts on a platform, criticizing the administration’s approach, stating, “Instead of contributing to the discussions to reopen the government, they opted to exploit hungry children as leverage. It’s quite shameful.”
Other Senate Democrats echoed this sentiment, reinforcing the ruling that permits some of November’s aid to come from reserve funds.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) emphasized, “A federal judge confirms what we’ve been saying all along. Trump absolutely has the authority to sustain SNAP.” She added, “That’s the very purpose of the emergency fund! If families suffer, it’s because President Trump chose to play political games instead of following the law regarding SNAP.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) noted, “The judge has stated that, by law, the government must use emergency funds to assist families in need.” She asserted, “President Trump has no valid reason to withhold food assistance. If SNAP isn’t issued, it’s purely a cruel political strategy, not a legal matter.”
The USDA has been contacted for a response regarding the matter.
