Rep. Dan Goldman Urges USDA to Protect SNAP Benefits During Republicans' Government Shutdown
October 27, 2025
Lawmakers Demand USDA Use Contingency Funding and Legal Authority to Fund Food Assistance for 3 Million New Yorkers, 42 Million Americans
Read the Letter Here
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Reps. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Angie Craig (MN-02), and 211 House Democrats in urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately take action to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue to reach families during the ongoing government shutdown.
“A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans,” the Members wrote.
The lawmakers urged the Secretary to use billions in available contingency funds and its statutory authority to fully fund November SNAP benefits, warning that failure to do so would leave millions of Americans without food assistance amid skyrocketing grocery prices caused by the Administration’s reckless trade war.
“USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds...” USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits,” the Members continued.
Intentionally and unnecessarily refusing to disburse these contingency funds in November would deprive millions of working families nationwide of a critical source of nutrition.
“There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people,” the Members concluded.
Read the letter here or below:
Dear Madam Secretary,
Right now, millions of Americans are struggling to afford food due to the Administration’s ill-conceived trade war. Just this year, we’ve seen household staples like eggs, coffee, and ground beef hit record high prices. Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not. Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month.
A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans.
That is why we were deeply concerned to see your comments suggesting that SNAP will run out of funding in two weeks and that no SNAP benefits will be issued in November.⁴ USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds...” USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits.
We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits.
There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people. We appreciate your consideration of these requests.
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