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NCS host Jake Tapper clashed with Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., over the government shutdown on Tuesday because the NCS host requested why she wasn’t pushing Senate Democrats to open the government if she was so involved about Americans shedding meals help.
“Let me be clear, the administration is choosing to starve American children with money that they already have appropriated. This is a choice by the White House,” Stansbury stated. “They are choosing to cut off food assistance.”
The Trump administration warned on Monday that hundreds of thousands might lose out on federal meals advantages inside days if the lawmakers did not fund the government. Democrats had been urgent the Trump administration to make use of the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency fund, which they stated incorporates about $5 billion, to cowl not less than a number of the shortfall.
Tapper pushed again and stated, “Congresswoman, this is also a choice by Senate Democrats to not vote to open the government.”
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, United States Representative and rating member of the DOGE Oversight Subcommittee, speaks on Capitol Hill in response to the proposal to chop Medicaid, on May 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for People’s Action Institute)
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The Democratic lawmaker hit again, “No, it is not.”
Tapper stated he understood why Democrats had been doing it, noting that Democratic lawmakers’ reasoning for not voting to fund the government, as they hope to extend the Obamacare subsidies.
“Let me just be clear, the money for contingency plans is sitting there. That is why the states are suing the White House for withholding food,” Stansbury responded.
It takes about $8 to $9 billion monthly to cowl all SNAP advantages. But the USDA argued that the emergency funding was not “legally available” to be used.
A banner exhibiting an image of President Donald Trump is displayed exterior of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) constructing on June 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
Tapper stated it will be “two to three weeks worth of SNAP funds.”
“Yeah, well it may not be a big deal to you, but let me tell you that for the grandparents,” Stansbury started earlier than the NCS host jumped in and stated it was a giant deal to him.
“My point is it’s a short-term solution,” Tapper stated, as Stansbury stated it did not matter.
The NCS host then pressed Stansbury on why she wasn’t pushing New Mexico senators to vote to open the government if she felt so strongly in regards to the SNAP program.
Ranking member of the Subcommittee on Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM, speaks throughout a listening to of the House Oversight Subcommittee within the U.S. Capitol on February 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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The Democratic lawmaker shot again, “Sir, I am here in the House of Representatives. It is shut down. I am fighting to get the government reopened.”
“I am finding to get funding put back into SNAP that is already existent, and I am fighting for the American people. I am here, but show me a single Republican that is here, not a single one is here to make sure that Americans are fed on Saturday. That is why I am there,” she stated.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.