US Congress Allows Families to Starve as Democrats Sacrifice SNAP Recipients' Benefits for Political Gain
The brutal reality of the recent government shutdown has hit home for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet. Sarah, a single mother in Maryland, is now facing an uncertain future as her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off after just one month of being rationed.
The US Senate's decision to end the partial government shutdown without securing crucial concessions from Republicans has left families like Sarah and millions more on the brink of disaster. The deal, brokered by eight Democratic senators, has seen no major changes to Medicaid cuts or Affordable Care Act subsidies. As a result, tens of millions of Americans will soon see their premiums skyrocket, and an estimated 7.8 million low-income individuals will lose their insurance coverage through Medicaid.
SNAP recipients like Delight Worthyn, a 67-year-old woman living with lupus in Connecticut, are outraged that Democrats failed to follow through on their promise to secure these vital benefits. "People's healthcare was at stake," she said. "And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this. I only feel betrayed."
The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that some recipients have received partial or full benefits due to a federal judge's order requiring the Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November. However, these benefits vary depending on state funding and are not guaranteed.
In an impassioned statement, Sasha Slansky, 33, a full-time student and part-time worker in New York, expressed her anger at Democrats' decision: "It's insane, it's insulting, and it's wildly out of touch." She highlighted the overlap between SNAP recipients and those receiving Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. As someone herself on Medicaid, she fears that millions, including possibly herself, will be left without insurance.
The consequences of this deal are devastating for families already struggling to afford basic necessities. Natalie, a 27-year-old delivery driver in Washington, said she managed to stretch her limited SNAP benefits by cutting back on meals, which normally lasted two days but now last four due to budget constraints.
Her experience is reflective of the broader impact: millions have sacrificed to ensure that healthcare for others remains a priority, only to see their own struggles ignored. The Intercept spoke with recipients who feel they were "sacrificed" in favor of politics as usual. Their voices serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of government decisions.
As Democrats continue to navigate post-election power dynamics, it is clear that millions are paying the price for short-term gains.
The brutal reality of the recent government shutdown has hit home for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet. Sarah, a single mother in Maryland, is now facing an uncertain future as her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off after just one month of being rationed.
The US Senate's decision to end the partial government shutdown without securing crucial concessions from Republicans has left families like Sarah and millions more on the brink of disaster. The deal, brokered by eight Democratic senators, has seen no major changes to Medicaid cuts or Affordable Care Act subsidies. As a result, tens of millions of Americans will soon see their premiums skyrocket, and an estimated 7.8 million low-income individuals will lose their insurance coverage through Medicaid.
SNAP recipients like Delight Worthyn, a 67-year-old woman living with lupus in Connecticut, are outraged that Democrats failed to follow through on their promise to secure these vital benefits. "People's healthcare was at stake," she said. "And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this. I only feel betrayed."
The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that some recipients have received partial or full benefits due to a federal judge's order requiring the Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November. However, these benefits vary depending on state funding and are not guaranteed.
In an impassioned statement, Sasha Slansky, 33, a full-time student and part-time worker in New York, expressed her anger at Democrats' decision: "It's insane, it's insulting, and it's wildly out of touch." She highlighted the overlap between SNAP recipients and those receiving Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. As someone herself on Medicaid, she fears that millions, including possibly herself, will be left without insurance.
The consequences of this deal are devastating for families already struggling to afford basic necessities. Natalie, a 27-year-old delivery driver in Washington, said she managed to stretch her limited SNAP benefits by cutting back on meals, which normally lasted two days but now last four due to budget constraints.
Her experience is reflective of the broader impact: millions have sacrificed to ensure that healthcare for others remains a priority, only to see their own struggles ignored. The Intercept spoke with recipients who feel they were "sacrificed" in favor of politics as usual. Their voices serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of government decisions.
As Democrats continue to navigate post-election power dynamics, it is clear that millions are paying the price for short-term gains.
I'm seriously worried about all these families struggling with their basic needs like food and healthcare 
. The US Congress seems so caught up in politics and not enough care for people's lives. It's crazy that they're willing to sacrifice people's well-being just to get what they want. Like, how can you justify taking away people's benefits when millions are already struggling? 
I'm all for a balanced budget, but at what cost? 
Everyone deserves access to basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education. It's our responsibility as humans to look out for each other 
. We need to keep advocating for these families and making our voices heard so that our leaders understand the impact of their decisions 
.
I mean, can't they just work together for once? Like, politicians know about the struggles of everyday people, right? So, why do they keep making decisions that affect us so much? 
It's not like we're asking for much – just enough to get by and have some dignity. But nope, it seems like some people are more interested in winning elections than helping the people who voted for them 
. And what really gets me is that they promise one thing during campaigns and then do the opposite when they're in power 
. I'm not saying everyone fits into this category, but it feels like a lot of politicians are out of touch with reality right now 
.
they're literally cutting off benefits from people who need 'em most! i remember when my mom was on welfare back in the day and she had to work like 2 jobs just to make ends meet. at least then we knew where we stood. now it's all about politics and not people. i feel so bad for those single moms trying to raise their kids on minimal income. it's just not right 
my ex was on Medicaid and she had to deal with so many issues because they changed the rules like for no reason whatsoever I feel so bad for people struggling right now 
. Millions of Americans rely on these programs to get by, and the fact that Democrats prioritized politics over people is heartbreaking 
. The lack of concessions from Republicans is staggering 
. And what's even more infuriating is that some people have received partial benefits because of a court order, but those aren't guaranteed either 
. Families are having to make impossible choices between healthcare and basic necessities 
. As someone who cares deeply about social justice, it's disheartening to see so many people sacrificed for short-term gains 
.
. It's time for our leaders to put people over politics and ensure that everyone has access to basic necessities 
.
families are literally struggling to put food on the table and now they're facing an uncertain future 
it's not just about politics, it's about human lives and suffering. these people aren't "sacrificing" their own struggles for others, they're fighting to survive themselves 
. and now millions of people will be left without insurance? that's not politics, that's heartless 
.
The US Congress has officially proven that they're more skilled at politicking than actual problem-solving 
The fact that millions of Americans are about to lose their insurance coverage and struggle with basic necessities just because of politics is just... wow 
It's like they're trying to create a whole new class of Americans: "The ones who are lucky enough to have health insurance" 
. It's time for some real change, not just empty slogans and photo ops 
. and yeah, i feel for these ppl, but can't they see how this is just gonna hurt more ppl in the long run? like, what about the ppl who have to pay more for healthcare or food because of this shutdown? it's not even a political issue anymore, it's just straight up human suffering 