WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and the rest of the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, legislation to provide funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) while the Trump Administration illegally withholds available funds.
“The Trump Administration has the authority and means to enable American families to continue receiving their SNAP benefits, yet they are choosing to withhold funding from this critical program, forcing millions into hunger,” said Senator Hirono. “Trump and Republicans already attacked the SNAP program with their Big Ugly Bill, and now they are doubling down—jeopardizing food assistance for millions of people in order to advance their political agenda. This legislation will help to ensure that families across the country can continue to feed their children, despite the Trump Administration’s cruelty and lawlessness.”
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. However, despite having billions of dollars available to fund SNAP, the Trump Administration decided to withhold funding for SNAP benefits in November.
The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 would ensure SNAP and WIC benefits are uninterrupted for the remainder of this fiscal year. The legislation also requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP and WIC benefits during a shutdown.
SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million Americans. In July of this year, Republicans voted to strip $186 billion from SNAP in the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”, marking the largest cut to the program in history.
In addition to Senators Hirono and Lujan, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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