‘Immoral, disgusting’ that Trump admin. ‘using food as a weapon’ during shutdown: Rep. Stansbury

Government Shutdown Impact - The government shutdown has reached its 33rd day, causing stress and anxiety for millions of American families regarding access to food and health insurance [1][6] - The shutdown is weaponizing hunger by withholding SNAP benefits from 42 million Americans, even against court orders [2][7][9] - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to continue paying out SNAP benefits from the emergency fund [8][12] Political Stance - Democrats are asking Republicans to negotiate to end the shutdown [3][5][7] - The largest federal workers union is calling for Democrats to step back from their healthcare demands to relieve suffering [4] - The Speaker of the House is refusing to negotiate with Democrats, and the President hasn't met with Democrats in over a month [6] Economic and Social Consequences - New Mexico has a high SNAP participation rate, with over 457,000 people, nearly 22% of the state's population, relying on it [9] - New Mexico is making $30 million available to fund about 10 days of emergency food assistance through state funding [11] - The administration is criticized for withholding food assistance while engaging in lavish spending [10][14][17] Public Perception - A poll indicates that almost 70% of Americans feel the Democratic Party is out of touch with the reality of most people [14] - Connecting with voters by addressing food assistance and healthcare crises is seen as crucial for political success [16][17]