Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Throwing Parties, Remodeling The White House While Negating Its Responsibility To Pay Out Snap Benefits For 42 Million Americans

Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Throwing Parties, Remodeling The White House While Negating Its Responsibility To Pay Out Snap Benefits For 42 Million Americans

"When it comes to feeding 42 million Americans, our most vulnerable neighbors and friends, suddenly, the Trump Administration appears confused and once again, in disarray…But it has no problem remodeling the White House bathrooms with marble and gold," Durbin said in his speech on the Senate floor

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized the Trump Administration for attempting to abandon its responsibility to pay out SNAP benefits after two courts ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does have the authority to use emergency funds to provide SNAP benefits to the 42 million Americans who rely on the program. As Durbin makes clear in his remarks, the President is halting SNAP benefits and harming the American people's ability to put food on the table, as a cruel tactic during the Republican-led government shutdown.

"Over the weekend, hundreds of donors lined the streets near Evanston Township High School to participate in a food drive for their neighbors. The turnout was so overwhelming that police had to turn off a traffic light at an intersection to accommodate the line of cars waiting to drop off food. While food was the main draw, Evanston organizers also handed out 'know-your-rights' cards and whistles along with toiletries. Those whistles have been used by community members to warn others when ICE agents are in the area," Durbin began. "While no community should have to resort to such extremes, Evanston and other communities across the country have been forced to do it, and they are willingly doing so."

"For the first time in our nation's history, the flow of federal funds for the SNAP program was halted at the direction of President Donald Trump. To think this President, in order to put political pressure on Congress, he's going to cut off the food to disabled people, elderly people, and children is disgusting," Durbin said.

Last month, the Trump Administration claimed that it did not have the authority to process SNAP benefits. However, the Trump Administration, during the 2018-2019 shutdown, continued to pay out SNAP benefits, and just weeks ago, USDA included text on its website explaining that these available emergency funds would be used to keep the program running during the shutdown. Trump Administration later quietly removed the USDA webpage. Additionally, earlier this year, the Republican-led Congress jammed through the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which axed Medicaid funding by $1 trillion and slashed SNAP by 20 percent-the biggest cut to the program in history.

Last week, federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled that the Trump Administration must use its authority to pay out SNAP benefits to Americans for the month of November. Even though USDA has enough emergency funds to cover full SNAP benefits for November, the Trump Administration announced that only half of those emergency funds will be used to cover SNAP costs this month, cutting benefits for the millions of Americans who rely on the program. Then yesterday, contradicting the position from his own Administration, President Trump suggested on social media that SNAP benefits will not be delivered until the government shutdown ends.

"The Trump Administration has the power to issue 100 percent of benefits to working families and kids who rely on this program. But the President and the Department of Agriculture are defying court orders and refusing to flip the switch on these emergency funds for circumstances just like this," Durbin said.

"In one moment, the Department of Agriculture says they'll send just 50 percent of the monthly benefits to SNAP recipients. The next moment, the President says he will only send out SNAP benefits when the government reopens," Durbin continued.

While 42 million Americans, including 2 million Illinoisans, are struggling to feed their families without full SNAP benefits, the President has been hosting parties and moving ahead with frivolous White House remodeling projects.

"When it comes to feeding 42 million Americans, our most vulnerable neighbors and friends, suddenly, the Trump Administration appears confused and once again, in disarray…But it has no problem remodeling the White House bathrooms with marble and gold, throwing a 'Great Gatsby' Halloween party for his richest friends, and passing tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires," Durbin said.

Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on President Trump to finally prioritize the needs of the American people.

"It's time for this Administration to stop this chaos. Families across America deserve better…We can do something to help Americans. If we can find $20 or $40 billion for Argentina, for God's sake, there's got to be money to help Americans pay their hospitalization premiums. I hope we get down to business today," Durbin concluded his remarks.

Durbin is a cosponsor of the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, legislation that prevents the Trump Administration from illegally withholding available funds for SNAP and WIC. Last week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) attempted to pass the legislation by Unanimous Consent (UC), but the bill was blocked by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

Last month, Durbin joined 45 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins calling on USDA to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure SNAP benefits continue in November.

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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