House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 3, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
He accused President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans of making an "intentional, vicious choice" after the administration said it was not able to reshuffle funds into the program without putting benefits for other vulnerable Americans, including children, at risk.
"Not a single American should go hungry. Not a single American. And it's the fault of Republicans that that is happening in this country right now," Jeffries said.
It comes just after the Trump administration said it would use nearly all of what's in the SNAP emergency contingency fund to give food-stamp recipients 50% of their benefits for November, following a judge's ruling Friday."
SCHUMER, DEMS CALL 'BULL----' ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FOOD STAMP SHUTDOWN THREAT
USDA data show that more than 41 million Americans use SNAP, with participation rates highest in New Mexico, Oregon and Louisiana. (USDA; Fox News)
Republicans are pushing a "clean" short-term funding bill without policy riders to give lawmakers until Nov. 21 to strike a deal on federal spending for fiscal year (FY) 2026.
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But Democrats have rejected that legislation more than a dozen times, demanding concessions on GOP healthcare cuts be paired with any spending bill. Jeffries indicated Democrats are still holding firm to that, despite the rising cost of the shutdown.
"We will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. That's been our position week after week after week. And it will continue to be our position because the Republican healthcare crisis is crushing the American people," he said.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hakeem-jeffries-digs-snap-blame-game-42-million-americans-food-benefits-risk