U.S. Representative Diana DeGette, who has served Colorado’s 1st district in Congress since 1997, used her social media platform this week to criticize former President Donald Trump and his administration over the handling of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during a government shutdown.
On November 3, DeGette wrote, “At every step of the way, Donald Trump and his administration have acted illegally to stop November SNAP benefits from going out. Now, after a judge has ruled the administration does have the legal authority to ensure full SNAP benefits, Trump will only do the bare minimum for”.
The following day, she posted another message: “Donald Trump is now openly defying court orders to pay out SNAP benefits. He has made clear that he does not care about the families who rely on SNAP to put food on the table, and children are going hungry because of his cruel, illegal actions. This is shameful.”
On November 5, DeGette commented further on the ongoing government shutdown: “It’s day 36 of the shutdown—the longest on record. Instead of working with Democrats to reopen the government, Trump is withholding full SNAP benefits from millions of Americans, while House Republicans are on a 6-week vacation. They promised to cut costs. Instead, they’re”.
DeGette’s remarks come as debate continues regarding federal food assistance during prolonged government closures and amid disputes between branches of government over legal authority and compliance with court rulings.
Diana DeGette was born in Tachikawa, Japan in 1957 and currently resides in Denver. She graduated from Colorado College with a Bachelor’s degree in 1979 before earning her Juris Doctor from New York University in 1982. Prior to her tenure in Congress beginning in 1997—when she succeeded Pat Schroeder—she served four years in the Colorado House of Representatives.
