Speaker Johnson Breaks Silence On Food Stamps
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is calling out Democrats for blocking emergency nutrition aid during the government shutdown, warning that federal law bars the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funds without congressional approval.
Speaking Monday, Johnson said the Trump-era legal review proves that SNAP’s emergency reserves — currently over $5 billion — cannot legally be used to cover benefits during the Democrat-driven budget standoff.
“The contingency funds are not legally available right now,” Johnson told reporters. “If USDA drains that account, it pulls money away from school meals and infant formula. That’s the trade-off Democrats created when they rejected a clean funding bill.”
Johnson reminded Americans that the GOP offered a straightforward continuing resolution to keep programs open, but Democrats refused. “There has to be a pre-approved appropriation,” he said. “They blocked it — now they’re blaming everyone else.”
USDA Sitting on $5 Billion It Won’t Use
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has over $5 billion in contingency funds reserved for real emergencies like hurricanes or natural disasters. Yet the Biden-aligned USDA says it won’t use the money if the shutdown extends beyond October 31, claiming it would be “illegal.”
A USDA memo even blamed Republicans, insisting the shutdown wasn’t an “emergency” but a “manufactured event.” However, that statement directly contradicts an earlier USDA plan — now deleted — that admitted the department is legally required to pay SNAP benefits during funding lapses.
Republicans say the new stance is a political weapon, designed to pressure Senate Democrats into passing more spending instead of cutting waste.
Democrats Deflect, Johnson Stands Firm
Democrats erupted in outrage, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accusing the Trump administration of “ripping food out of the mouths of children and seniors.”
But Speaker Johnson says the real issue is accountability — and Democrats’ refusal to govern responsibly.
“We only need five Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing,” Johnson said. “They need to stop caving to the Marxist far-left and help the 42 million Americans who depend on this essential nutrition program.”
✅ Bottom Line
Speaker Johnson is making it clear: the SNAP crisis is 100% avoidable — if Democrats would simply vote to fund the government instead of playing political games.
