Gillibrand, Democratic Colleagues Urge Trump Administration To Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits

Gillibrand, Democratic Colleagues Urge Trump Administration To Immediately Release November SNAP Benefits

Oct 24, 2025

Trump Administration Decision Could Impact Roughly One In Seven New Yorkers Who Depend on SNAP For Critical Food Assistance

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is calling on the Trump administration to immediately release billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding that millions of New Yorkers rely on to put food on the table.

After reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) instructed states to halt the processing of SNAP benefits for November, Senator Gillibrand joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and 41 of their Senate colleagues in urging USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to release necessary funding and ensure SNAP benefits continue without interruption.

"After choosing to unnecessarily shut down the government, the Trump administration is now putting millions of New Yorkers at risk of losing the food assistance they depend on," said Senator Gillibrand. "SNAP is a lifeline for millions of Americans, and the USDA must do everything in its power to continue processing benefits. I will keep fighting to ensure that the Trump administration does not needlessly disrupt this critical support that keeps food on the table."

In their letter to Secretary Rollins, the senators 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 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."

In New York alone, 2.9million people are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits if the USDA fails to use available funding to continue the program. Beyond feeding families, SNAP is also vital for the New York economy, with every dollar invested by SNAP generating $1.54 in economic activity.

This letter is co-signed by 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), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), 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), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), 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), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

To view the full letter, click here.

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