Senator Calls for SNAP Funding Amid Government Shutdown

Senator Josh Hawley is urging Congress to pass legislation ensuring continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the government shutdown enters its second week, potentially leaving millions without food assistance.

The Missouri Republican introduced the Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would allocate “such sums as are necessary to provide uninterrupted benefits” under SNAP. The Department of Agriculture has stated that federal food aid will not be distributed on November 1st. “Saturday will be another grim milestone,” Hawley wrote, “That is the day about 42 million Americans will lose federal food assistance.” This comes as the shutdown impacts numerous federal services and leaves thousands of employees working without pay.

Hawley acknowledged that reopening the government with a “clean” funding measure remains the ideal solution, but stressed the immediate need to protect food assistance. He shared stories from constituents, including a retired teacher concerned for her grandchildren and a woman supporting a disabled husband, emphasizing that “There is no reason any of these residents of my state — or any other American who qualifies for food assistance — should go hungry,” and that “We can afford to provide the help.” For more information on SNAP eligibility, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

The senator framed the issue as a moral imperative, stating, “But this isn’t about politics at all in the end. It’s about who we are…The character of a nation is revealed not in quarterly profits or C.E.O. pay, but in how it treats the small and forgotten.” The ongoing shutdown highlights broader debates about government funding and budgetary priorities.

Hawley and his colleagues are expected to continue negotiations on both the broader government funding bill and the standalone SNAP funding measure in the coming days.