U.S. Sen. Angus King is co-sponsoring new legislation aimed at ensuring federal food assistance programs continue to receive funding during the ongoing government shutdown. The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act would require the Trump administration to immediately release billions of dollars in available funds for two key programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The proposed legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide these funds without delay, allowing benefits to continue uninterrupted. Additionally, the bill would mandate that the federal government reimburse states if they choose to cover SNAP benefits during the shutdown. According to King’s office, the legislation is retroactive to the beginning of the shutdown.
Last week, the USDA announced it would not fund SNAP benefits for November. This program serves approximately 42 million Americans, including nearly 170,000 residents of Maine. Funding for SNAP is set to expire this Saturday.
Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is also co-sponsoring a similar bill called the Keep SNAP Funded Act. Introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), this legislation aims to guarantee that benefit payments continue throughout the shutdown. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is also a co-sponsor of this bill.
“Maine families, children, veterans, and seniors shouldn’t have to worry about losing access to food assistance because of political tactics,” King stated. “No one in this country should ever have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting dinner on the table. The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act is about decency and plain common sense, and it keeps faith with the Maine people who count on us most. In all our history, a shutdown has never meant Americans go hungry—and it shouldn’t start now.”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins noted this week that it would cost the USDA $9.2 billion to fund November SNAP benefits, along with administrative costs and nutrition block grants. She added that the department does not currently have that money on hand.
However, King emphasized that by law, the Trump administration is required to use billions in available funding to keep SNAP benefits flowing in November. He also pointed out that USDA guidance confirms the agency has the authority to utilize these funds during a government shutdown.
Senator Collins echoed these concerns, announcing last week her support for Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act. “No American should face hunger because of partisan brinkmanship in Washington,” Collins said. “SNAP is a lifeline for more than 170,000 Mainers, including 50,000 children and 73,000 older adults, who rely on this critical nutrition assistance. As Congress works to resolve the needless and reckless government shutdown, passing this legislation to ensure that SNAP payments continue without interruption is a top priority.”
Meanwhile, state officials in Maine are also urging the Trump administration to distribute SNAP benefits for November. On Tuesday, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey joined a multistate lawsuit seeking to compel the administration to use $5 billion in contingency funding approved by Congress to continue providing SNAP benefits.
The efforts by Senators King and Collins, alongside state leaders, highlight the urgent need to protect vital nutrition assistance programs for millions of Americans during the government shutdown.
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/29/angus-king-co-sponsoring-bill-to-keep-snap-wic-going-during-shutdown/
