Trump Threatens To Withhold SNAP Benefits As Murphy Mobilizes National Guard

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are partially rolling out this month, despite heavy opposition from the Trump Administration, but the president has warned citizens that he would continue to withhold benefits until the shutdown ends. And Governor Phil Murphy is mobilizing the National Guard to manage the crisis.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would continue to fund SNAP benefits only when “the Radical Left Democrats open up government.”

“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly “handed” to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the president wrote.

Last week, two federal judges ordered that the Trump Administration, specifically the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), tap into $4.65 billion in contingency funds to keep the program afloat. The administration previously said it had no plans to tap into the contingency funds before the rulings.

See Related: SNAP Benefits Partially Restored: What It Means For NJ

SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 827,000 New Jerseyans and around one in eight people nationwide, was set to pause this past Saturday amid the government shutdown, which just hit day 35 on Tuesday.

It was not made immediately clear when the EBT cards, the debit cards that those enrolled in SNAP use to buy groceries, will be reloaded.

The Shutdown: Day 35

The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, came after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running.

Democrats wanted to reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump's mega-bill, passed over the summer, and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

The Senate, including New Jersey senators Corey Booker and Andy Kim, rejected the measure on a 55-54 vote that fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.

“We just went into a shutdown because Republicans refused to work with us to deal with the health care crisis that they created,” Booker said in a video posted in October. “Donald Trump and Republicans control the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House. They need to do their job and put forward a budget that will help Americans.”

As the blame game continues, there is no indication of when the shutdown will end, as it is on track to become the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

NJ Addresses Food Crisis

With the future of SNAP benefits still uncertain, New Jersey officials are taking action to make sure those in need can still feed themselves and their families.

On Monday, Governor Phil Murphy deployed the New Jersey National Guard to support food banks across the state.

The Air National Guard mobilized to deliver refrigerated storage containers to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey and Fulfill, enhancing the cold storage capacity at critical hubs for emergency feeding organizations. Read More: Murphy Mobilizes National Guard To NJ Food Banks

"The Trump Administration’s failure to fund SNAP benefits has left hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents feeling scared and unsure of where their next meal will come from," said Murphy.

"When our neighbors are in need, the New Jersey National Guard stands ready to serve," said Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Additionally, Murphy signed an executive order establishing a Task Force on the Federal Suspension of SNAP Benefits in response to the "food insecurity crisis caused by the federal government shutdown and the unprecedented suspension of SNAP benefits."

Murphy's administration has also allocated $42.5 million in food and hunger grants to assist food banks and pantries across the state.

“In communities across our state, food banks are on the front lines combating food insecurity and supporting New Jersey families in need. They are an integral part of our food security safety net, and our Administration is proud to deliver funding to support their operations, especially at a time of increased uncertainty,” said Murphy. “The Trump Administration’s decision to abandon the over 800,000 New Jerseyans who rely on critical SNAP benefits during one of the longest federal government shutdowns in our nation’s history is morally reprehensible. In New Jersey, we will continue to coordinate across government and with our partners on the ground as we navigate the fallout from the federal government’s failure to act in the best interest of the American people.”

Sara Winick and Alexis Tarazzi contributed reporting.

See Related: Federal Government Shuts Down: What To Know In NJ