US Senate minority leader warns of looming hunger crisis as nutritional benefits set to expire during shutdown

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday warned that millions of Americans could soon lose access to food assistance if the federal government shutdown continues, accusing President Donald Trump and Republicans of allowing the crisis to deepen.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said the shutdown has put key social programs at risk, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to more than 42 million Americans.

"We are just three days away from open enrollment and three days away from the biggest health care crisis America has seen in a generation," Schumer said.

SNAP benefits are set to expire Nov. 1, becoming a flashpoint in the government shutdown, which is now in its 29th day.

"And what is Donald Trump doing? He's ignoring one colossal health care crisis while manufacturing another, a hunger crisis,” he said. “Let's be very clear, this does not need to happen. This is on Donald Trump's shoulders. He can immediately provide SNAP benefits, as every president has done in the past.”

Schumer noted that funding for the program has never been allowed to lapse during a shutdown under any administration, including with Trump in 2019.

"In fact, Trump himself funded SNAP throughout that shutdown. So, this argument that he can't do it, that he doesn't have the money, that it's not legal, is just bull, self-serving, nasty, vicious bull," he added.

The New York Democrat said his caucus is prepared to move forward with legislation to restore benefits and reopen the government. He urged Senate Republican leader John Thune to allow pending relief bills to come to the floor.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley introduced the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 bill which would provide full funding for SNAP during the shutdown.

Separately, Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan led dozens of Senate Democrats in pressing the Agriculture Department to immediately release billions in available funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing through November.

"We Democrats are ready to act. We will push to pass the Lujan bill. We will vote for the Hawley bill, if Thune does the right thing and puts it on the floor before the weekend, before families lose their benefits, before holidays turn into a hunger crisis. We are ready to act," Schumer said.

He urged Republicans not to block the measures, framing the issue as a moral test for Congress.

"Don't let politics outweigh compassion. Let's stop this hunger shutdown. Let's stop this shutdown. ... Let's feed our people, and let's end this hunger crisis," he added.

The shutdown, the second-longest in US history, began Oct. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations on federal spending priorities. Thousands of federal workers have since been furloughed, or working without pay, while government services have been curtailed or suspended.