A MAGA congressman has gone on a finger-pointing rant aimed at food stamp recipients, accusing them of “smoking crack” ahead of a lapse in benefit funding.
Rep. Clay Higgins, 64, hit out at Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users, saying those without a month’s supply of food in their pantries didn’t deserve the help.
His comments come less than 48 hours ahead of funds expiring for the food stamp program, on which 42 million Americans rely. Checks will stop on Saturday unless Democrats and Republicans can make a last-minute agreement to open the government after 31 days.
“There are 22 million American households receiving SNAP benefits for groceries, at $4,200 per year on average,” the five-term congressman said. “Try to get your head wrapped around how many pantries you can stock with $4,200 in properly shopped groceries.
“Any American who has been receiving $4,200 per year of free groceries and does NOT have at least one month of groceries stocked should never again receive SNAP, because wow, stop smoking crack.”
SNAP benefits are designed to alleviate food poverty nationwide. However, some commentators fear it could be used as leverage to ensure that partisan policy is included in legislation to end the government shutdown.
As The Washington Post noted in an editorial: “It’s not designed for stimulating the economy or propping up stores, truckers, or farmers. Nor should it be a bargaining chip for ending a government shutdown.”
SNAP benefits are received by some of the poorest households in the country.
In January, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities described it as “the nation’s most important anti-hunger program.”
According to the think tank’s data, in Higgins’ home state of Louisiana, 847,100 residents received SNAP, amounting to 18 percent of the state population. The national rate is 12 percent.
Of Louisiana participants, 69 percent “are in families with children,” and 37 percent “are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled.”
According to the Urban Institute, President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” in July led to cuts worth $186 billion to SNAP.
Republicans and Democrats largely remain dug in on their positions after weeks of assertions that the other is to blame for the government shutdown.
Among the employees affected are some in key infrastructure roles such as air traffic controllers. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration was close to canceling all landings at Orlando International Airport because it had “no certified controllers for a period of time, “which it said would ”prevent landings.”
Certain federal employees are still getting paid. On Oct. 12, Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to ensure that active military personnel continued to receive their paychecks.
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Reclusive billionaire Trump donor Timothy Mellon gave $130 million to the Pentagon to fund troop salaries.
Higgins, for his part, has a strong track record on toeing the line with Trump.
In 2020, he said the presidential election had been “compromised,” adding, “I have to tell you that this election, our president won this election.” He then said, “And if any American would stand by and allow the total dissolution of our republic, then you’re not an American.”
The Daily Beast has contacted Higgins for comment.
