Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will oppose any Farm Bill that weakens funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), drawing a firm line as debate over federal food assistance continues.
SNAP Funding Warning
On Monday, Schumer made his position clear in a post on X, saying, "I will NOT support a Farm Bill that doesn’t protect SNAP funding."
He followed the statement with a broader warning about the consequences of reducing food assistance, adding, "A Farm Bill that abandons hungry families is wholly unacceptable."
I will NOT support a Farm Bill that doesn’t protect SNAP funding.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 6, 2026
A Farm Bill that abandons hungry families is wholly unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/8HJje8c63c
USDA Report Highlighted SNAP Error Rates
In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the national SNAP payment error rate reached 10.62% in fiscal 2025, with $10.1 billion in improper payments, exceeding the federal threshold of 6%.
The report said states with error rates of 6% or higher could be required to share SNAP benefit costs beginning in October 2027 under President Donald Trump’s tax-and-spending law.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the figures showed that "state accountability is severely lacking in SNAP."
The USDA also noted that Trump’s broader welfare overhaul expanded work requirements and tightened eligibility, contributing to a decline in SNAP enrollment from 42.8 million recipients in January 2025 to about 38.6 million a year later.
Democrats Criticized Trump Over Spending Priorities
Earlier, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) criticized Trump’s spending priorities, arguing that the administration focused on projects and events while Americans faced rising costs and potential cuts to social programs.
Pritzker said Trump said the country could not afford Medicaid and SNAP while supporting projects linked to the president, writing, "Apparently, we can afford anything — as long as it’s for Donald Trump."
Kelly said working families were "getting squeezed from every direction" by higher costs for gas, groceries, health care and rent, arguing the White House’s focus showed misplaced priorities.
He wrote, "His priorities are clear — and helping working families isn’t one of them."
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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