Sharon Parrott

It would be unconscionable for the Administration to go out of its way to threaten millions of children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents, and workers with hunger, rather than taking all legal steps available to provide food assistance to people who need it.

Even at this late date, the professionals at the Department of Agriculture and in states can make this happen. And, to state the obvious, benefits that are a couple of days delayed are far more help to families than going without any help at all.

Speaking as a former OMB official, I know from experience that the federal government has the authority and the tools it needs during a shutdown to get these SNAP funds to families.

Also, the Administration could use its legal transfer authority — the same authority it already used to provide additional funds to #WIC — to supplement the contingency reserves, which by themselves are not enough to fund families’ full benefits.

The shutdown cliff that could hit Democrats hard The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps feed more than 40 million people, will start to run out of funds Nov. 1.

The Administration itself admits these reserves are available for use. It could have, and should have, taken steps weeks ago to be ready to use these funds. Instead, it may choose not to use them in an effort to gain political advantage.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

These reserves contain billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when #SNAP funding is inadequate, funding that remains available during the shutdown.

Trump Administration Is Legally Required to Provide SNAP in Shutdown, Contrary to Its Claims Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency r...

The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need #SNAP to afford groceries, despite USDA Sec. Rollins’ claim that the Administration is unable to do so. My statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Congress Must Block Administration’s Illegal Cuts, Protect Affordable Health Care | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Today’s government funding shutdown is fundamentally different than prior funding fights because the Administration is acting outside the law. Any funding agreement must put a stop to this pattern of ...

Today’s government funding shutdown is fundamentally different than prior funding fights b/c the Administration is acting outside the law. Any funding agreement must put a stop to this pattern of lawlessness & protect affordable health care. My statement:
www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Republicans Must Negotiate to Prevent Health Care Cost Spikes, Protect Funding Laws | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Republicans are claiming their short-term continuing resolution is business as usual, but nothing about this moment is normal.

The Trump Admin’s threat to illegally fire more workers if the President doesn’t get his way is blatant extortion: using working people & their families as pawns in a power play with no concern for who gets hurt.

My full statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Congressional Republicans & the President need to come to the table w/ Democrats to reach a deal that prevents health care cost spikes for millions of people & ensures the Admin can’t unilaterally or illegally undo bipartisan funding laws simply bc the President dislikes them.

Meanwhile, they are doing nothing to address a looming, massive health care cost spike for >20M ppl and have so far refused bipartisan negotiations to prevent families across the country already struggling to afford health care & other basics from taking this hit.

Republicans are claiming this is business as usual but nothing about this is normal. We’ve never seen a President unilaterally and unlawfully ignore bipartisan laws. And then he expects Congress to do nothing to stop him.

Let’s be clear about what’s going on here: The Trump Admin has repeatedly shredded the last bipartisan funding bill- illegally canceling or freezing funding that Rs & Ds agreed to (e.g. for medical research) & keeping it from reaching the people & communities it’s meant to serve.

The Trump Administration’s threat to illegally fire more workers if the President doesn’t get his way is blatant extortion: using working people and their families as pawns in a power play with no concern for who gets hurt.

These data are collected every December. Congress needs to stand up for sound data and its importance to sound policymaking. Time is of the essence.

Ending data collection on topics as important as families’ ability to afford food makes it harder to understand whether we are making progress or going backwards as a nation.

The Administration has argued that its policies are good for families and the economy, but ending data collection on whether families can afford food suggests they are far from confident.

These data are critical for understanding how policies and economic indicators – like food prices, changes to #SNAP, unemployment, and income growth affect households’ ability to afford food. The survey has been validated and even adopted by other countries.

Both Democratic and Republican administrations since the 1990s have implemented and improved the survey so that policymakers and the public would have quality data about households that struggle to afford food.

Exclusive | Trump Administration Cancels Annual Hunger Survey The government has been measuring food insecurity since the mid-1990s but now says the report has become “overly politicized.”

The Administration acknowledged that it will stop the survey that measures food insecurity, just as tariffs push up food prices and the deep cuts to food assistance enacted in July start to take effect. Congress must intervene to save these vital data. www.wsj.com/economy/trum...

“Regular Order” Means Bipartisan Negotiations and a Deal That Sticks | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Members of Congress should not be expected to cast their votes for compromise bipartisan legislation only to have it undone through unlawful or partisan actions.

As he released House Rs’ short-term continuing resolution bill, Approps Chair Cole spoke to the importance of “restoring regular order.” Restoring regular order is indeed crucial. But it’s important to be clear about what regular order means. My statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

2026 Appropriations Must Protect Against Further Partisan Cuts and Illegal Withholding of Funds | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities The Trump Administration has repeatedly undermined last March’s bipartisan appropriations law, covering fiscal 2025, both by working with congressional Republicans to claw back funds using a partisan ...

If Congress doesn't address this, it will be very difficult to reach funding deals in the future since Congress won't be sure the resources they provide will actually reach the people and communities they were intended to assist. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...

The Administration has undermined the bipartisan 2025 funding deal by withholding funds, using a partisan rescission bill to cancel funding agreed to on a bipartisan basis, and *remarkably* claiming unilateral authority to hold funds & allow them to expire.

Republican Megabill Will Erode Much of the Progress on Health Coverage and Push Poverty and Inequality Higher | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Policy advances over the last 25 years have helped millions of people secure health coverage and lifted millions of people above the poverty line. However, if left unchanged, July’s Republican megabil...

Today’s Census report shows the economy was reasonably strong in 2024, but wide inequities persisted. If left unchanged, the harmful Republican megabill will erode much of the progress on health coverage & push poverty and inequality higher. My full statement: www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Wally Adeyemo Joins CBPP Board | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Wally Adeyemo, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and distinguished visiting fellow at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, has joined the...

I’m thrilled to welcome Wally Adeyemo to @centeronbudget.bsky.social board! Wally brings a deep commitment to CBPP's mission as well as a wealth of expertise advancing policies that ensure everyone has access to the opportunities & resources they need to thrive. www.cbpp.org/press/press-...

Trump Admin & congress'l Rs are advancing a 3-part agenda that threatens Black households by limiting opportunities to live in healthy & thriving communities, @gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
explains in a new report. Grateful to the Blk Econ Alliance 4 their input & support www.cbpp.org/research/eco...

The President’s accusations are baseless. His actions will undermine trust in our country’s economic statistics – widely viewed globally as the gold standard – that are vital to keeping our economy strong and meeting the needs of people and communities across the country.

x.com/byheatherlon...

Russ Vought: Appropriations process ‘has to be less bipartisan’ The OMB director said more rescissions packages could soon be headed to the Hill.

Bipartisan agreements are key to funding the government on time & with the resources required to serve the country’s needs. Undermining the ability for Congress to reach them risks lasting harm. www.politico.com/live-updates...

There’s little reason for the minority party in Congress to agree to a deal when the Admin & majority party can unilaterally strip funding they don’t like, or if the Admin may attempt to unilaterally & illegally withhold funds w/no pushback from the majority party.

Rescission Package Would Sabotage Recent Funding Deal, Cripple Future Ones | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities President Trump’s proposal to rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, which the Senate is expected to vote on this week, is a bad idea for several reasons, as noted in a recent CBPP...

By approving the Administration’s rescission package, as is widely expected, congressional Republicans are sabotaging the bipartisan funding agreement reached just months ago & poisoning the well for future deals. www.cbpp.org/blog/resciss...