Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut sparked controversy on Tuesday after claiming that President Donald Trump was “illegally” blocking food stamp funds amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its fourth week.
DeLauro, 82, who has represented Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District since 1991, made the remarks during a House gathering as lawmakers remained deadlocked over federal spending.
The dispute has centered on appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to roughly 42 million Americans.
Speaking to reporters, DeLauro accused the Trump administration of failing to release SNAP payments from a contingency account.
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She argued that the funds were legally obligated to be disbursed despite the shutdown.
“This administration is illegally blocking these funds,” DeLauro said.
“They are required by law to ensure these payments go out.”
TDS ALERT — Sen. Purple Hair says President Trump is "illegally" "blocking SNAP funds from going out" ...
Who wants to tell her that it's the DEMOCRATS who have voted 13 times to PREVENT SNAP benefits from being funded??🤡 pic.twitter.com/lXjzt9Q4nS— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 28, 2025
However, officials familiar with the ongoing budget negotiations said the lapse in SNAP funding stems from the lack of an approved budget, not executive action.
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Under current law, SNAP payments are dependent on annual congressional appropriations. With Democrats repeatedly voting against continuing resolutions to reopen the government, the program’s funding has stalled.
The dispute over SNAP payments has become a flashpoint in the broader budget impasse between the Republican-controlled White House and the Democratic-led Senate.
Democrats have voted against multiple House-passed funding measures since the shutdown began, citing opposition to proposed spending caps and policy riders.
Republicans have argued that the only obstacle to restoring federal payments, including SNAP, is the Senate’s refusal to advance appropriations bills.
“The solution is simple — reopen the government,” one House GOP lawmaker said.
“Democrats have voted no more than a dozen times on funding bills that would restore these payments. The president isn’t blocking the money. Congress is.”
House Republicans have repeatedly emphasized that the contingency fund DeLauro referenced was not designed to substitute for normal congressional appropriations.
The account is intended for short-term emergencies or natural disasters, not to finance programs indefinitely during a shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that SNAP benefits could run out as soon as early November if funding is not restored.
The agency said it lacks sufficient authority to draw from other accounts to maintain payments during the lapse in appropriations.
DeLauro’s remarks came as Democratic leaders sought to shift political blame for the shutdown to the White House.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has maintained that Democrats are standing firm to gain “leverage” in negotiations over budget priorities.
“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer said earlier this week.
🚨 @WhipKClark, the number two House Democrat, on the Democrat Shutdown: "Of course there will be families that are going to suffer... but it is one of the few leverage times we have."These people are SICK! pic.twitter.com/7MRHsmGMGx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 22, 2025
Republican officials have countered that the strategy has backfired.
Polling data released this week shows an uptick in Republican approval ratings since the shutdown began, with GOP leaders attributing the shift to growing frustration with congressional gridlock.
As the standoff continues, federal employees and benefit recipients face uncertainty about when government operations will resume.
While negotiations are ongoing, both parties remain far apart on key spending provisions.
President Trump has said he will not approve any spending bill that fails to meet his administration’s fiscal and policy requirements, but he has not taken executive action to block SNAP payments.
Administration officials maintain that only Congress can authorize the release of additional funds.
The House and Senate are expected to reconvene later this week to continue negotiations on a short-term spending resolution that could temporarily reopen federal agencies and restore benefit programs, including SNAP.
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Classic “progressive” Democrat whining drivel. FAFO and then complain about the FO part. Worse, they blame the FO part on someone else and try to profit from fixing their own mistakes. These people are just trash. More and more people are catching on to this grift.
82 and she colors her hair purple? WOW! She looks like she could be a man pretending to be a woman; however, her gripe is ridiculous. She should be putting Cryin’ Chuck in his place to do what is right for AMERICAN CITIZENS; not illegals. Why should hard-working taxpayers support illegal people who broke the law through Obiden’s idiotic allowing anyone and everyone to just walk across OUR borders? If you, as an American, tried to do that in ANY other country, you would quickly find out that your are not welcome as a resident.
You are right, she looks like a cranky old man cross dressing badly.
All you DEMOCOMMUNIST voters need to remember this in the upcoming elections, that YOUR PARTIES “priorities” are ONLY for those criminal illegal aliens they want to give FREE HEALTH CARE, and they will use the denying of benefits of the LEGAL American citizens, as they have openly stated… “leverage”…
Perhaps the time has come to rethink your “political preferences”, as “your party” and those “representatives” YOU VOTED FOR, could give a rat’s behind if you live or die, as long as they still get PAID, can remain IN POWER, and keep those criminal illegal; aliens fat, happy, and FED, as YOU go without..
You’re too dumb to be an American. Why don’t you go back to SubSaharan Africa where you doubtless came from, and leave Americans alone!!
No wonder we have so many entitled people
DeLauro, like most “progressives” is a child whose actions have led to results she doesn’t like but isn’t smart or mature enough to take responsibility for those actions. This is what we get and deserve for electing intellectuals and morally limited careerist to Congress. You are what you vote for.
Are you saying that all who voted for her are traitors? If so I agree.