Duckworth, Durbin Join Luján and Senate Democrats in Effort to Stop Trump Administration from Illegally Withholding Funding for Nutrition Assistance Programs That Feed American[...]

Duckworth, Durbin Join Luján and Senate Democrats in Effort to Stop Trump Administration from Illegally Withholding Funding for Nutrition Assistance Programs That Feed American Families

The Trump administration is required by law to use billions in available funding to keep SNAP benefits flowing in November; USDA's own guidance confirmed its authority to use available funds during a shutdown

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, legislation that would help prevent the Trump Administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Despite having billions of dollars ready and available to pay for SNAP, the Trump Administration continues to play politics with the ability of Americans across the country to put food on the table. Not only does the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have the authority to release SNAP contingency funds, but the statute is clear: the Trump Administration is required by law to release these funds.

"Trump could keep funding SNAP if he wanted to-but he's choosing not to, intentionally forcing children and millions of families to go hungry," Duckworth said. "Trump and Republicans have made their priorities painfully clear-funding ICE as it terrorizes neighborhoods and spending hundreds of millions on private planes and ballrooms, all while refusing to let USDA use emergency funds to help Americans put food on the table."

"The American people are not a bargaining chip. It is appalling that-at the same time the President is building a $300 million grand ballroom for himself, handing out new private jets to his cabinet officials, and sending a $40 billion bailout to Argentina-the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans are withholding SNAP benefits from 42 million Americans," Durbin said.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 directs the USDA to immediately release billions of dollars in available funds to ensure SNAP and WIC benefits continue uninterrupted for the remainder of this fiscal year. The legislation also requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP benefits during a shutdown.

Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Luján, this legislation is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), 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), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. 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), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the legislation is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

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