With SNAP benefits set to halt, Thune says he can't clarify Trump's plan to fund program [View all]
Source: ABC News
October 29, 2025, 5:01 PM
With critical food assistance benefits set to run out in just a few days, Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday weighed in on President Donald Trump's comment that his administration may find a solution to help fund the program, as lawmakers appear sympathetic, but still entrenched.
The Department of Agriculture said earlier this week that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which serve roughly 42 million low-income Americans, will not be issued on Nov. 1 amid the ongoing government shutdown. On Tuesday night as he traveled to South Korea, Trump signaled his administration may find a solution to help fund SNAP, saying "we’re going to get it done," without offering any details on how.
At the same time, Trump blamed Democrats for putting Americans at risk of losing critical federal food assistance this weekend."The Democrats have caused the problem on food stamps ... because all they have to do is sign, and, you know, they sign, I'll meet with them,” Trump said.
Asked about Trump's SNAP benefits comments, Thune told reporters on Wednesday that he spoke to Trump on Tuesday, but didn't have insight into what his comments meant. "I think that what he is saying consistently is 'Open up the government and then we' -- and that's the way to fund SNAP," Thune said.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/snap-benefits-set-halt-thune-clarify-trumps-plan/story?id=126980773
The GOP intends on gutting the Farm Bill nutrition programs like SNAP eventually, so their "concern" is all lip service.
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