Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging USDA to Protect SNAP During Republican Shutdown

Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging USDA to Protect SNAP During Republican Shutdown | U.S. House Representative Jill Tokuda Skip to content Close Home About Biography Our District Votes And Legislation Committees & Caucuses Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus Bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus Services Help With A Federal Agency Tours And Tickets Internships Flags Art Competition Commendations and Greetings Military Service Academy Nominations Funding Requests Grant Applications Events Know Your Rights Disaster Assistance Programs for Flooding Victims Community Resources and Flood Response Guidance Media Op-Eds Press Releases In The News Videos Contact Email Me Scheduling Request Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Website Problem Close SEARCH Congresswoman Jill Tokuda About Biography Our District Votes And Legislation Committees & Caucuses Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus Bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus Services Help With A Federal Agency Tours And Tickets Internships Flags Art Competition Commendations and Greetings Military Service Academy Nominations Funding Requests Grant Applications Events Know Your Rights Disaster Assistance Programs for Flooding Victims Community Resources and Flood Response Guidance Media Op-Eds Press Releases In The News Videos Contact Email Me Scheduling Request Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Website Problem Modal Search Button Mobile Site Search Submit Search MENU Facebook Logo Twitter Logo BlueSky Logo Youtube Logo Instagram Logo Home Media Press Releases October 25, 2025 Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging USDA to Protect SNAP During Republican Shutdown WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined 214 House Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use all available authorities, including the $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, to ensure food assistance continues for millions of Americans during the ongoing Republican shutdown. The letter from House Democrats demands that USDA act immediately to provide November SNAP benefits using the contingency reserve fund Congress specifically established for this purpose. Without urgent action, 42 million Americans, including keiki, kūpuna, and veterans, could see their food assistance cut off in November. “Thousands of Hawaiʻi households will soon face an impossible question — how to put food on the table with no certainty that their federal SNAP benefits will come through next month. SNAP contingency funds exist for emergencies like this, yet 42 million Americans, from keiki to kūpuna, risk going hungry. That is unconscionable,” said Rep. Tokuda. “USDA already confirmed SNAP has multi-year contingency funds to keep operating through a shutdown. Now the Trump administration claims their hands are tied, and that guidance has vanished. As this Republican shutdown approaches its second month, the administration has a choice: either continue to use food as a political weapon or use the legal authority given to them by Congress to stop this crisis and keep families fed. I urge Secretary Rollins and the administration to do the right thing and fulfill their responsibility to the American people.” The letter is linked here . ### Print Email Share Tweet Previous Article Next Article About Services Media Contact Privacy Policy Facebook Logo Twitter Logo BlueSky Logo Youtube Logo Instagram Logo