AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) has little sympathy for millions of Americans whose food assistance benefits are set to lapse on Nov. 1.
On Saturday, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of money amid the ongoing government shutdown that began on Oct. 1. The government partially shut down nearly a month ago after the Senate failed to muster the votes necessary to pass a Republican-sponsored funding bill. Even though Republicans control the chamber 53-47, 60 votes are needed to overcome a procedural hurdle to move the bill forward. Democrats said they won’t support any funding bill unless it contains an extension of healthcare premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are slated to expire on Dec. 31.
As Nov. 1 has drawn closer, recipients of SNAP benefits – often called food stamps – have taken center stage in national media coverage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP served 41.7 million Americans across 22 million households per month in 2024.
Higgins took to X on Thursday and said SNAP beneficiaries should
“There are 22 million American households receiving SNAP benefits for groceries, at $4200 per year on average,” he wrote. “Try to get your head wrapped around how many pantries you can stock with $4200 dollars in properly shopped groceries. Any American who has been receiving $4200 dollars per year of free groceries and does NOT have at least 1 month of groceries stocked should never again receive SNAP, because wow, stop smoking crack.”
Hours after Higgins’ tweet, President Donald Trump demanded that Senate Republicans end the 60-vote threshold for advancing legislation.
“INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,'” he wrote on Truth Social. “GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), one of the more conservative senators, has introduced a bill that would fund SNAP beyond Nov. 1. Senate Democrats have said they would back the measure, but Republican leadership has given no indication that they will bring it to the floor for a vote.