Reed & Whitehouse Call on Trump Admin. to Release SNAP Contingency Funds

WASHINGTON, DC - Historically, both Democratic and Republican administrations have found ways to sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program during past budget crises and federal shutdowns by using contingency funds, carry-over appropriations, and short-term adjustments. That was the case in 2013 and 2018-2019. But now, despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is legally obligated to release SNAP contingency funds, the Trump Administration is threatening to withhold roughly $6 billion in reserve funding meant to help feed vulnerable Americans and is choosing not to transfer funds from other available USDA reserve accounts.

Stressing the importance of sustained funding for SNAP, which helps feed nearly 42 million Americans nationwide, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined 44 of their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to protect and deliver full SNAP benefits for the coming month. If the Trump Administration refuses to follow the law and take appropriate action, 140,000 Rhode Islanders may not receive SNAP benefits on November 1.

SNAP is administered jointly by states and USDA and receives federal funding through the annual appropriations process. However, the Trump-Republican budget law that was recently enacted cut SNAP by $186 billion over the coming years to fund the GOP's billionaire tax breaks. Still, SNAP has a contingency fund of about $6 billion that, by law, should be tapped, and USDA has other sources of funding it could use to ensure SNAP benefits are disbursed without interruption.

This week, Reed and Whitehouse joined with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and forty-three of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the Trump Administration not to delay or deny SNAP funds to states. The senators say USDA should release the billions of dollars currently at USDA's disposal to ensure SNAP benefits continue uninterrupted in November. The senators warn that inaction by the Trump Administration would be cruel, unnecessary, and could force millions of Americans to go hungry.

The Democrats raised the alarm about the USDA's failure to use available funding to continue SNAP, writing: "We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will 'run out of money in two weeks.' In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November."

"First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown," the 46 U.S. Senators continued.

The Senators concluded: "In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA's plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government."

The non-partisan Food Research & Action Center echoed these concerns and called out the Trump Administration, stating: "Allowing hunger to deepen during a shutdown is not an inevitability; it is a policy choice. The Trump Administration has demonstrated urgency in funding other priorities, but not the same commitment to protecting low-income families' access to food through SNAP."

According to USDA's own funding lapse plan, which the Trump Administration removed after September 30 and replaced with a partisan message trying to blame others for the shutdown, SNAP "shall continue operations during a lapse in appropriations, subject to the availability of funding." Internet archives show USDA's funding lapse plan, which clearly acknowledges: "Congressional intent is evident that SNAP's operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown. These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year."

Reed and Whitehouse point out that in addition to helping 140,000 Rhode Islanders in need access nutritious food, SNAP supports local farmers and grocers, and strengthens our communities and economy. The state receives about $29 million per month - nearly $350 million per year - from the federal government to administer SNAP across Rhode Island.

In Rhode Island, SNAP participants receive an average individual monthly benefit of roughly $200, or about $6.50 per day. Recipients may use their SNAP benefits to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread and other foods at 900 retailers and markets across the state.

SNAP eligibility and benefit amounts are based on income, expenses, resources and the number of people living in a household. Recipients get an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that can be used at supermarkets, grocery/convenience stores, farmers' markets and participating online retailers.

Local foodbanks are bracing for increased demand due to the SNAP disruption and Rhode Islanders in need may call United Way of Rhode Island's (UWRI) 2-1-1 hotline to get connected to help.

In addition to Reed, Whitehouse, and Booker, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation's largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.

We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will "run out of money in two weeks." In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.

Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA's plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.

Sincerely,