Democrats Mobilize Around SNAP Funding

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/30/2025) State-level elected Democrats, at multiple levels, took action in various ways Wednesday in reaction to federal food assistance payments being paused in November due to the federal government shutdown. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced that, until year's end, they're freeing up some of the restrictions on the department's Double Up Food Bucks Program to allow people to use more benefits on more types of produce. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel held a press event at a Lansing food bank with Lansing Mayor Andy Schor to draw attention to the lawsuit she signed onto with other attorneys general against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to free up dollars for other programs to prevent the freezing of benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Senate Democrats introduced a resolution urging the Trump Administration and the USDA to immediately release SNAP funding. 

And House Democrats proposed a $600 million emergency supplemental from the state's rainy day fund to make up for lost federal funding, allowing SNAP to remain temporarily operational for the 1.4 million Michiganders who use it, and $12.5 million for both the Food Bank Council of America and food pantry programs. 

First off, MDARD announced that its changes will include Double Up earnings no longer expiring. Limits are being eliminated. Frozen fruits and vegetables are now eligible. A $40 voucher is also being made available that will not require a matching SNAP purchase. 

“In Michigan, we work to support one another as best we can and this moment is no different," Whitmer said.  

Dems Want $600M Supplemental For SNAP Backfill 

Michigan would put $300 million a month for two months into backfilling the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is due to be paused on Nov.1, under a bill package sponsored by House Democrats.  

Reps. Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit), Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) and Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe)are sponsoring bills that would create a $600 million emergency supplemental to make up for lost federal funding, allowing it to remain temporarily operational, and $12.5 million for both the Food Bank Council of America and food pantry programs. 

Coffia told reporters that state funds backfilling SNAP are not a solution, and this crisis is manufactured. 

“This administration and the Washington Republicans just approved a $40 billion bailout to Argentina while they are agreeing to some sort of Hunger Games for 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP benefits. We, the House Democrats, say we are not down for The Hunger Games. We are going to do what we can to fight for our people, to make sure that they have full bellies going into winter,” Coffia said. 

As of yesterday, Coffia said they had been in conversation with Senate colleagues and EOG about the bills. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced yesterday that she would join 22 other attorneys general for the lack of SNAP benefits being available. 

O’Nealya Gronstal of the Lakeshore Food Club spoke to reporters as well yesterday, saying that her organization serves about 2,800 households per year in Mason County. 

“If these SNAP benefits do not get funded, we will cripple the charitable food system,” Gronstal said. “That is the message that I want loud and clear. This will cripple our

charitable food system. We are not prepared.”  

Gronstal said there isn’t enough food in the warehouse to meet the need that’s coming, and they have no resources to fill the gap for 1.4 million Americans that benefit from SNAP.  

As this funding lapse looms just ahead of the holiday season, Gronstal said family meals and kids home from school on break will put more stress on those families. 

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