U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Statement on Courts Ordering the Trump Administration to Fund SNAP During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) released the following statement on the federal court rulings that the Trump Administration's attempt to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding was unlawful. The judges ruled that the Trump Administration is required by law to continue funding SNAP using contingency funds during the government shutdown.

"Not only was the Trump Administration's attempt to block 42 million Americans from getting food assistance unbelievably cruel -- it was also illegal. I am incredibly relieved by today's court rulings, and expect to see the Administration take swift action to ensure that American families can get the food assistance they need and deserve - as required by these court rulings.

"I am deeply disappointed that the Trump Administration and Republican majority in Congress spent all week repeatedly lying to the American people that they couldn't fund SNAP - when the truth is that they have the full authority and legal requirement to do so.

"This comes after Trump and his Republican majority made the single largest cut to food assistance in our nation's history this summer in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires. I am going to keep fighting every day to hold this Administration accountable, make sure the American people know the truth, and that we live in a country where every American can afford to put food on the table."

Earlier this week, Rep. Kelly Morrison joined nearly every Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives in calling for the Trump Administration to fund the SNAP during the government shutdown. In their letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, they called out that the Trump Administration has the authority to ensure SNAP benefits continue during the shutdown, and the ability to fully fund SNAP in November through the contingency fund and their legal transfer authority.

The Trump Administration's attempt to cut food assistance for tens of millions of Americans comes after they passed the single largest cut to SNAP in our nation's history earlier this summer. Through their "One Big Beautiful Bill," the Republican majority in Congress cut food assistance by nearly $200 billion to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

While Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has refused to bring the U.S. House of Representatives back into session for six weeks, Rep. Morrison is pushing for bipartisan negotiations to end the government shutdown and ensure SNAP benefits and health care are protected for millions of Americans.

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