Three million New Yorkers are expected to lose access to food assistance benefits this Saturday due to what Governor Kathy Hochul describes as the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of emergency funding. In a statement released Tuesday, Hochul said, “We are staring down a public health crisis that puts one million children and over 600,000 older adults lives at risk because Republicans in Washington are refusing to do their jobs and the Trump Administration is hellbent on letting Americans suffer the consequences.”
Hochul emphasized that New York State will take action in response to the potential loss of aid. “New York will not sit idly by when lives are on the line. We’re proud to assist the Office of the Attorney General in joining 24 other states in suing the Trump Administration, demanding the release of emergency funds so families can continue to put food on the table through this government shutdown.”
The governor noted her office has been warning about how a federal government shutdown could disrupt critical programs such as SNAP for New Yorkers. She added that state authorities expedited $30 million in emergency food assistance funding yesterday, which is projected to provide over 16 million meals across New York State. Hochul stated, “As I’ve been clear, no state can backfill this essential federal program but I am committed to doing everything in my power to hold the Trump Administration accountable and ensure New Yorkers do not go hungry.”
