Newark—October 29, 2025---Advocacy and faith groups are urging GOP lawmakers and the Trump administration to reverse the unprecedented crisis they created that will deprive hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans of food and affordable health insurance in the next few days.
The Trump administration stated it would not use emergency funding to maintain benefits during the federal government shutdown for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food stamps to more than 40 million Americans and more than eight hundred thousand New Jerseyans.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance has stated that without Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium credits, which will be allowed to expire under the Trump’s administration’s “big, beautiful bill,” New Jersey will see a nearly 175 percent increase in premiums for ACA marketplace plans.
New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) and the New Jersey Coalition of Religious leaders urged the administration to extend funding for SNAP, WIC (Women, Infants and Children), School Meals and the ACA credits during the shutdown, and for GOP officials come back to the negotiating table with regards to massive, long-term cuts made to Medicaid, Medicare, the ACA, SNAP, and other critical programs as a result of the “big, beautiful bill.”
“It’s unconscionable that the Trump administration is weaponizing hunger and healthcare into a tool for political coercion,” said NJCA Director of Policy and Advocacy Maura Collinsgru. “Government is shut down because the broad cuts the Trump administration imposed are devastating for millions of Americans and these millions have made their voices heard. Instead of listening, the GOP is punishing our most vulnerable families, neighbors, and community members. We need our state GOP Representatives to join their Democratic colleagues in calling to fund SNAP, and for them to go back to the negotiating table on healthcare and other vital programs.”
“The faith community in New Jersey is outraged that we are not caring for our residents struggling to make ends meet each month,” said Reverend Sara Lilja, Executive Director, NJ Coalition of Religious leaders. “Many faith communities administer food pantries and other food distribution programs, but for every meal that is provided by such generosity, SNAP funds provide 9 meals. Two in three SNAP beneficiaries are children, people with disabilities, and the elderly; in short, the people who are most vulnerable and must have adequate nutrition each day.”
New Jersey has joined a lawsuit against the federal government to forestall SNAP’s defunding, which notes there is $ 6 billion in a Congressionally approved reserve fund for such an emergency. SNAP benefits are due to cease Saturday, November 1, the same day open enrollment begins for the ACA marketplace. More than 500,000 New Jerseyans receive their health insurance through marketplace plans. These affordability shocks will hit as millions of New Jerseyans are already struggling with surging utility bills, capped childcare subsidies, and stubbornly high inflation.
New Jersey GOP Congressman Tom Kean, Jr., and Jeff Van Drew have called for a “conversative path” to restore the ACA enhanced premium credits as the shutdown drags on, but NJCA Healthcare Program Director Laura Waddell noted their efforts are too little, too late.
“This government shutdown and affordability crisis sweeping the nation are catastrophes of their own making,” said Waddell. “They had the chance to vote against these cuts months ago and preserve affordable health care for millions but failed both New Jersey and our nation. We urge all our GOP Representatives to join their colleagues from across the aisle to support the “Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025” (H.R. 4849) to reverse the cuts and push for a permanent solution to the health care crises millions of Americans and New Jerseyans face.”
Advocates and faith leaders also urged members of the general public with resources to donate to food banks who have already seen a sizeable increase in families seeking relief before the SNAP crisis is due to hit. Anyone interested in donating should go to Help – Hunger Free NJ for more details.