Contact: media@communitychange.org
Community Change Action Statement on Impacts of Trump and GOP Refusal to Fund SNAP, ACA
Directly-impacted people available for interviews upon request
On Nov. 1, funding for SNAP, the ACA, and other programs millions of Americans rely on to get by will run dry because of the Republican shutdown. Community Change Action Director of Care Economy Jennifer Wells said:
“As long as they get their way, Trump and the GOP are fine with starving and freezing our families, and then making it impossible for them to see a doctor when they inevitably get sick. They’re waging war on poor people to grow their authoritarian power and line the pockets of their billionaire backers. They are choosing to hold back funds for food stamps, affordable healthcare, heating assistance, and so many of the other programs millions of Americans rely on.
The GOP has put us in the worst food crisis since the Great Depression and our economy on the verge of collapse. Our people – parents, caregivers, kids, the elderly, people working multiple jobs to make ends meet, disabled people – will suffer the most. The majority of Americans will feel the pain, while Trump’s tax cuts allow the rich to write off private jets.
This affects all of us, and it will take all of us to put an end to the cruelty: Whether that’s filling in the gaps with mutual aid and food bank donations, or sending your representative an email, phone call, or DM with your story and a demand to fund the programs we need – what you do in this moment matters.
Republicans control all the levers of government: they’re in the White House and they have a majority in both the House and the Senate. But we control how much noise we make and we won’t stop organizing until they provide the funding millions of us need.”
The following people shared their stories with Community Change Action about how they will be impacted. They are available for interviews upon request:
Sara, a mother of three from rural Pennsylvania, “Families like mine are already behind on our bills, so if our SNAP benefits are taken away, it’s going to mean another month we have to make hard choices between eating and keeping the lights on. We’re counting on charity for our Thanksgiving meal, and I can’t even think about Christmas presents. My baby depends on formula, so I am beyond concerned.”
Kate, a small business owner and professional musician from Arizona, “The government has made it clear they have the money to do whatever they want, including sending people into terrorized communities – they just don’t want to help people, and that’s especially true when it comes to keeping the ACA expansion. They try to act like they are on the side of small business and American business, but they make it so hard for us to exist.”
Robin, a childcare provider of nearly 30 years from Arkansas, “A lot of people don’t realize that these cuts to food are also cutting the food kids receive in our classrooms – childcare providers already struggle to make ends meet, and the support we receive from the government to feed our students is essential to keeping our doors open. Without this funding, families will have to send their own food, which many can’t afford to do, or providers will have to shoulder the costs with their own money – both are unsustainable.”
For more stories, see our story map.
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