The Trump Administration is required by law to use available federal funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing during Trump’s government shutdown
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, cosponsored the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, legislation that prevents the Trump Administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).
In New Mexico, more than 450,000 people rely on SNAP each month. This includes more than 65,000 seniors and nearly 200,000 children across the state. The average New Mexican enrolled in SNAP receives $190 in nutrition assistance per month, equivalent to about $6.24 per day per person. SNAP benefits are redeemed at more than 1,650 authorized retailers statewide and generates approximately $1 billion in economic activity for the state.
Despite having the funds available to pay for SNAP during Trump’s government shutdown, the Trump Administration continues to play politics with New Mexico’s working families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the authority to release SNAP contingency funds and the Trump Administration is required by law to release these funds – yet, Trump is choosing not to fund SNAP during Republicans’ shutdown. New Mexico needs approximately $81,000,000 a month to fully fund SNAP.
“President Trump and Congressional Republicans chose to shut down the government because they didn’t want to lower people’s health care costs. That’s about to hit home for over 459,000 New Mexicans who soon won’t be able to put food on the table. Republicans aren’t just indifferent; they are choosing this outcome – choosing not to use funding they already have to help feed families,” said Heinrich. “Republicans control the White House, the House, and the Senate. Their leadership needs to bring principals in a room to figure this out, negotiate a deal that holds down the cost of health care, and ensure families in New Mexico and across the country don’t go hungry because of Republicans’ failure to lead. If Republicans insist on dragging out Trump’s shutdown, USDA can and must step up, using every dollar and every authority it has to keep families from going hungry. Full stop.”
The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 directs the USDA to immediately release billions of dollars in available funds to ensure SNAP and WIC benefits continue uninterrupted for the remainder of this fiscal year. Additionally, the legislation requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP benefits during a shutdown.
The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act is led by Luján. In addition to Heinrich, the legislation is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The full bill text of the legislation can be found here.
Last week, Senator Heinrich pressed USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately release November SNAP benefits amid Trump’s shutdown.
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