John,

When Donald Trump signed his Big Budget Betrayal, he made the largest cut to SNAP in our nation’s history, ripping nutrition benefits away from millions of Americans who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.

He keeps trying to take food off the tables of vulnerable families. Amidst Trump’s government shutdown, he directed his Secretary of Agriculture to illegally deny SNAP benefits to 42 million Americans starting November 1st―including 16 million children, 8 million older adults, and 4 million people with disabilities.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, which has already been allocated by Congress. But Trump is refusing to use it, instead telling states that they’re on their own. One law professor and federal funding expert called out the absurdity of the USDA’s refusal to release SNAP contingency funds:¹

“Both the first Trump administration and this administration, as recently as the end of September, said these funds were available in the case of lapses in appropriations. This is blatantly lawless.”

That’s why I’ve joined more than 200 of my House colleagues in writing to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, demanding the USDA fully fund SNAP in the month of November.

Add your name to demand U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins follow the law and immediately release SNAP contingency funds to stop vulnerable families from starving.

Trump seems to be relishing his government shutdown. To further cut essential government programs and services, Trump has illegally fired thousands of federal workers while threatening to deny back-pay to furloughed workers.

At the same time, he’s telling congressional Republicans not to negotiate with Democrats, and my Republican colleagues haven’t even been into the Capitol to work this month. Republicans are refusing to renew Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which millions of people rely on to keep their health insurance more affordable.

That means that starting November 1, not only will tens of millions of Americans be denied SNAP nutrition benefits, tens of millions more will see health insurance premiums double when they look at health care options during the ACA marketplace open enrollment period.

Additionally, Trump’s USDA is choosing not to spend discretionary funds to cover WIC—the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—in November. This will harm 7 million infants, young children under the age of 5, pregnant and postpartum mothers, and other care-takers. States rely on federal funding to administer this vital program, and only a handful of states have offered to step up and fund WIC for at least part of the month.

This lawless president ran on a promise to make life more affordable for working people. He lied, and now he’s cruelly denying life-saving funds to vulnerable communities, making food unaffordable, and putting healthcare out of reach. This is policy violence that could kill Americans, and I promise to keep fighting back against it as hard as I can. Right now, everyone needs to raise their voices.

Add your name now and demand Secretary of Agriculture Rollins use SNAP contingency funds and discretionary authority to fully fund SNAP and WIC in November.

Together, we will fight not only to reverse Trump’s cuts, but also to expand our social safety net and ensure food and healthcare for all.

In love and solidarity,

Rashida

¹ Trump Administration Won’t Use Emergency Funds for Food Stamps During Shutdown