Congressmen Barrett and James Are Failing to Act as 1.4 Million Michiganders Face Complete SNAP Cutoff

As we enter one full month  of the shutdown, Congressmen John James, Tom Barrett, and Congressional Republicans are putting food assistance at further risk for families who rely on it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has instructed Michigan to pause the distribution of SNAP benefits starting in November, leaving approximately 1.4 million Michiganders—nearly 13% of the state's households—without critical food assistance. Nearly half a million children across Michigan benefit from SNAP, and 43% of SNAP households are families with children while 36% include older adults, veterans, or people with disabilities. 

"Congressmen Barrett and James voted to cut SNAP earlier this year to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, and now they're letting the government stay shut down while 1.4 million Michiganders—including nearly half a million children—lose access to food assistance," said Steve Lawson, Executive Director of Michigan Families for Fair Care. "Families are already struggling with rising costs from tariffs and skyrocketing health care premiums. Now Republicans in Congress are forcing them to choose between feeding their children and paying their bills. It’s time for Representatives John James and Tom Barrett to stop cutting food assistance, extend health care tax credits permanently, and end the government shutdown."

Earlier this year, Congressmen Tom Barrett and John James voted for the Republican Tax Law that made massive cuts to SNAP to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.