It’s been one month since Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress shut down the federal government. With no end in sight, Minnesota kids, seniors, and people with disabilities will face serious difficulties accessing the food they need to survive.
Meanwhile, Trump is adding a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom to the White House and planning tax breaks for billionaires.
How Did We Get Here?
Make no mistake: Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress are responsible. They want to cut millions of dollars in health care funding to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations. These cuts will leave millions of hardworking Americans without health insurance. Millions more will face increased health care costs.
This reckless shutdown has had real consequences for Minnesota. It threatens access to essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It has also made it harder for families to get the services they rely on every day.
Minnesota’s Federal Workers Are Feeling the Strain
About 670,000 workers are on furlough, and 730,000 employees deemed essential are working without pay across the country, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Minnesota has nearly 18,000 federal workers. While federal law says workers in shutdowns must receive back pay, with all the other budget cuts, many federal employees are anxious and preparing for the worst.
Struggling Minnesotans Are Being Abandoned By Trump and Conservatives
Three critical programs that Minnesotans rely on are quickly running out of resources. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), and Head Start all rely on federal funding.
But Trump and conservatives are set on passing a budget that puts corporations and billionaires first, and working American families last.
Minnesotans Facing Food Insecurity
Starting Nov. 1, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits that provide critical food assistance to Minnesotans will run out of funding, and Trump and conservatives are to blame. The termination of payments, temporary or not, will cause food insecurity statewide to increase starting in November, and put more strain on food assistance groups that are already stretched thin.
Energy Bill Assistance Is Under Threat
Programs like LIHEAP are designed to offer low-income households assistance with their energy bills. With winter—often a time of increased need—approaching, the shutdown has shuttered their ability to plan and allocate funds. Families that need support with their energy bills will be left in the cold. While Minnesota has protections in place, not every state will be able to support their residents through a cold winter if the shutdown continues.
Families Could Lose Head Start
Due to Trump’s government shutdown, thousands of preschoolers could lose access to Head Start. Low-income families are provided early childhood education, nutritious meals, health screenings and other support services through this program.
Children could lose access to healthy meals and other resources. Families would be without affordable child care options. It would force some caregivers to quit their jobs or reduce their work hours. Community members could see economic ripple effects if staff who work in Head Start programs lose their paychecks or their jobs.
Cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis are scrambling to cover housing and community programs that depend on federal dollars to stay open and running.
At a time when living expenses are already skyrocketing, nobody should have to worry about where their next meal will come from or how to afford heating their home in the winter.
We need to hold these conservatives accountable
It’s unacceptable that Donald Trump and conservatives are willing to sacrifice our health care and public programs so that the rich can get richer.
Minnesotans deserve better. Sign up to help us do the work and get involved in the fight back.
