WTTW: Illinois Congressional Democrats React to Partial Release of SNAP Benefits, Ongoing Government Shutdown

The government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. Millions of people stand to lose food aid benefits, health care subsidies are set to expire, and there are few real talks between the parties over how to end it.

President Donald Trump said in an interview that aired Sunday that he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats who are demanding negotiations to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president said on CBS’ “60 Minutes” he’ll negotiate only when the government is reopened.

Trump said Democrats “have lost their way” and predicted they’ll capitulate to Republicans.

“I think they have to,” Trump said. “And if they don’t vote, it’s their problem.”

Trump’s comments signal the shutdown could drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and there’s uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who receive federal food aid will be able to access the assistance. Senate Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government, insisting they need Trump and Republicans to negotiate with them first.

The Trump administration indicated in court Monday that it will only partially fund SNAP this month by using a $4.65 billion emergency fund. That left the program in uncertainty with no clear indication of how much beneficiaries will receive or when their cards will be loaded to buy groceries.

Illinois congressional Democrats are putting the uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits at the feet of Trump and Republicans. WTTW News invited the state’s Republican U.S. representatives to join “Chicago Tonight”; they either declined to appear on the show or did not reply.

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat whose district includes portions of the west and southwest suburbs, said standing law requires the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP. 

“There’s an old Chris Rock joke about people wanting credit for what they’re supposed to do, and in this case the Trump administration has done half of what they’re supposed to do,” Casten said. “I’m glad that some of the money is flowing through, but it’s still less than what’s legally required.” 

Although partial funds for SNAP will be released, a senior official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, warned that the administrative hurdles could push those payments back for weeks — or even months.

“There’s gonna be some delay that’s leading to a ton of uncertainty going into the holiday season,” Casten said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that Trump is “desperate” to get SNAP benefits to those in need and blamed Democrats for holding up the funds.

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents parts of Chicago’s West Side, rejected Johnson’s claims.

“It’s hard to hear Speaker Johnson when you know he’s full of lies,” Ramirez said. “The president, if he wanted to fully fund SNAP today, he could. He always finds a way to get what he wants done. Whether it’s a ballroom or giving ICE agents … billions of dollars. He could make sure that kids are eating today, and that’s a choice that they’re making.” 

Officials representing the Trump administration wrote in a court filing that exceeding the $4.65 billion set aside in the USDA emergency fund could threaten other food programs, such as school lunches.

The cost to fully administer SNAP each month is around $8 billion, and exhausting any emergency funds could result in a similar scramble come December. 

Democrats are holding firm on their health care stance, insisting that Republicans agree to a permanent extension of ACA tax subsidies before reopening the government.

U.S Rep. Bill Foster, a Democrat from Naperville, said constituents are already expressing alarm at increases in monthly health care premiums, which in some cases have more than doubled.

“We’re getting flooded by people who are saying, ‘What is this? My insurance costs are going to double,’” Foster said. “Estimates are somewhere in the range of 15 million people are going to end up losing insurance.”

Foster said congressional Republicans must return to Washington, D.C., and work with Democrats to reopen the government. The House has been kept out of session since Sept. 19.

“Speaker Johnson has no excuse for why he’s holding the House out of session,” Foster said. “Just because the government is shut down doesn’t mean we can’t be having hearings but most importantly actually negotiating on this.”