Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Support SNAP Recipients During Trump Government Shutdown

Legislation follows reporting that Trump administration is trying to block grocers in Oregon and nationwide from offering discounted prices to SNAP recipients during ongoing government shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would allow grocery stores nationwide to voluntarily offer discounts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients whenever a government shutdown prevents them from getting their full benefits, if they choose to.

Introduction of the Emergency Relief for Hungry Families Act follows reporting earlier this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is trying to block grocery stores from offering discounted prices to SNAP recipients in their communities, including in Roseburg, Oregon, where Grocery Outlet was instructed by USDA to stop offering discounts.

"On top of Donald Trump's government shutdown ending food assistance for 42 million Americans, his administration is making a craven attempt to penalize grocers working to support hungry families in their community," Wyden said. "Donald Trump is the most powerful person in the world. Only a monster would use that power to deny help to millions of families that don't know where their next meal is coming from."

"The Trump Administration's real MAHA strategy is the 'Make America Hungry Agenda,' weaponizing food for vulnerable families and seniors," Merkley said. "As long as Trump refuses to follow the law and fully fund SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, Congress must take action to ensure folks can continue to feed their families. Our common-sense bill does just that by making sure businesses can voluntarily offer discounted food and groceries to SNAP enrollees during this Republican shutdown."

Funding for food assistance programs, including SNAP, expired on November 1, 2025. Last week, two federal courts ruled that the Trump administration must use an existing contingency fund to extend food assistance funding. However, Trump has inconsistently stated whether his administration intends to follow the law and refuses to use interchange authority to spend long-standing Section 32 tariff revenue to fully fund SNAP benefits for November.

Legislative text is here.

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