Miles Taylor, who was deputy chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s first term, criticized the former president amid a government shutdown that threatens the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this weekend.
He shared on Social Platform X, “While part of the Trump administration, I tried to persuade the president to end the prolonged 35-day government shutdown back in 2018-2019, before people faced hunger, workers missed paychecks, and essential services fell apart.”
He emphasized, “What I learned is that he doesn’t just give.”
With SNAP funds set to expire on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated on Tuesday that the department cannot legally use emergency funds to sustain SNAP benefits through November, a move that would cost $9.2 billion. She indicated that this funding isn’t available due to the ongoing government shutdown.
When asked about the SNAP funding issues during a flight on Air Force One, Trump vaguely replied, “We’ll get it done,” but did not elaborate further.
Democrats contend that not utilizing reserve funds for SNAP is against the law. Representative Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut remarked, “The reserve funds designated for SNAP are not discretionary; they are mandated by law,” while speaking to reporters at the Capitol.
Both Democrats and Republicans are advancing different proposals to ensure SNAP benefits continue through November.
According to monthly data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP supported around 41.7 million Americans in the 2024 fiscal year.
Democrats are feeling increasing pressure to resolve the government shutdown in a way that is politically advantageous. Party leaders have expressed a desire for Trump to negotiate on health insurance premiums, but specifics on what it would take to gather enough support to reopen the government have not been detailed.
This shutdown follows months of frustration among Democrats over Trump’s policies and growing discontent within their base, demanding more action from their leaders.
The Hill has contacted the White House for their comments.
