Who’s to Blame For The Potential SNAP Crisis?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is at risk of a funding halt beginning on Nov. 1 if the government shutdown continues. 

The Details: The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service website declares, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program... They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.” Around 42 million individuals (12% of the US population) are current SNAP beneficiaries. 

From The Left: “It’s upsetting to see something as important as SNAP benefits get turned into a political football,” wrote Zeeshan Aleem (Left bias) for MSNBC (Left). Aleem asserted that both parties look poor amid the ongoing shutdown, but the Trump administration is ultimately putting food stamps at risk by refusing to accept Democrats’ “wholly reasonable demands” to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. He wrote that the administration is “painting a dire black-and-white picture of funding falling off a cliff” that “fram[es] the funding problem as catastrophic as a tool to apply more pressure on Democrats.” Aleem theorized that the administration may “tap into alternative funds to avert a total SNAP disaster at the last second,” which still increases the likelihood of late benefit rollouts. He also referred to the USDA’s claims about healthcare benefits for unauthorized immigrants as “a nonsensical Republican talking point that has been debunked” and said the department has emergency funding that “should be available for use toward SNAP benefits.”

From The Right: AllSides found very little recent commentary from news media on the right pertaining to SNAP cuts. An analysis from Daily Mail (Right), however, highlighted the deepened polarization between Democrats and Republicans on the issue, contending, “Americans have been left divided.” The outlet’s bias was reflected in its statement that “Democrats have refused to reopen the government until Republicans agree to compromise on extending parts of the Affordable Care Act;” however, it gave voice to commentators on both the left and right of the political spectrum. It quoted Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who said, “Donald Trump is literally dancing in Asia while 40 million people lose access to food. Disgusting,” and Matt Walsh (Right), who said, “EBT [Electronic Benefits Transfer] should just be abolished outright. 95 percent of the people on the program could easily feed themselves. They just don’t feel like making the effort. The other 5 percent can rely on charities, soup kitchens, food drives, churches, etc. The program is a disaster. Get rid of it.” Daily Mail also gave voice to SNAP Deputy Director Gina Plata-Nino, who said beneficiaries are “for the most part, working individuals who still are living paycheck to paycheck.” 

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