Free Republic

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, unexpectedly took center stage in debates over the federal government shutdown.As funding for the program, formerly known as Food Stamps, ran out in October, Congress, President Donald Trump, and the federal courts have wrestled with what to do about feeding millions of Americans who depend on this benefit each month.SNAP has grown in size and cost since its inception in 1964, as have many other social welfare programs.Here’s a closer look at the program, what it costs, the participation rates in different states, and how it has come to top $100...

Donald Trump is being taken back to court over his refusal to fully fund SNAP. He is creating a hunger crisis in America. All so that he can avoid reopening the government and fixing healthcare for millions of Americans. It’s horrific.

For Maggie Aragon, a New Mexico woman who’s relied on federal food assistance for more than 30 years, the moment her SNAP balance dropped to zero was life-altering, she says. “When I heard, ‘Zero dollars,’ my chest went into my throat,” Aragon told KOAT 7 News, describing the fear and panic that set in when she discovered her benefits had been cut off due to the ongoing Democrat-led government shutdown. “It’s detrimental to my life.” Aragon, who said she also depends on local food banks to survive, is one of tens of thousands of New Mexicans now facing uncertainty as...

SNAP food benefits could restart as early as Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday morning. Two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must use emergency funds to pay SNAP benefits, which help feed 42 million Americans, during the government shutdown. Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island also directed that these be paid out of emergency funds “as soon as possible.” Boston Judge Indira Talwani gave the administration until Monday to tell her if it will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November. The administration was originally set to cut...

Significant milestones over the next few weeks could shuffle the status quo. For now, both sides remain dug in as the closure heads into a fifth week.Senate Republicans were confident that the call on Monday from the largest federal employees union for an end to the government shutdown would finally nudge labor-allied Senate Democrats to move toward resolving the stalemate entering its fifth week.Democrats were instead mostly unmoved.Their bet was that news on Wednesday of soaring health care premiums because of expiring Obamacare tax credits might finally persuade Republicans to negotiate on extending the subsidies. That didn’t pan out either;...