WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, October 29, at 1:45 p.m. ET in the U.S. Senate Radio-TV Correspondents Gallery to discuss the Trump Administration’s refusal to use a $5 billion emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fund to prevent 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million Americans with disabilities from going hungry.
On November 1, federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to stop after the Trump Administration announced it would refuse to use roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep the program running during the ongoing government shutdown as it is legally obligated to do. This comes at a time when the Trump Administration is taking health care coverage away from 15 million Americans and increasing premiums for 20 million — all while preserving $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
What: Press conference calling on Trump to use the USDA’s $5 billion emergency fund to fund SNAP in order to feed children and families during the shutdown.
When: 1:45 p.m. ET, Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Where: Senate Radio-TV Gallery. The press conference will also be livestreamed on Sanders’ social media.
Who:
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
- Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.)
- Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
- Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
- Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.)
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.A
