Press Release: 11/5/2025

Video: Pressley Convenes SNAP Food Retailers as Republican Shutdown Threatens Food Assistance and Local Economy

 



Trump’s Refusal to Fully Fund SNAP Could Cause 100,000 Households in MA-07 to Go Hungry and Many of the Retailers Families Rely on to Go Under



Roundtable | Press Conference | Photos



BOSTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) held an emergency convening and press conference with SNAP-dependent food retailers to make plain how the Trump-Republican shutdown and ongoing uncertainty over November SNAP benefits is harming Massachusetts families and our local economy. The convening, which took place at the Dorchester Food Co-op, comes as Republicans’ government shutdown and Trump’s refusal to fully fund the SNAP program threatens food assistance for over 1 million people in Massachusetts—including 100,000 households in the Massachusetts 7th—and could cause many of the food stores they rely on to go under.




“Trump and Republicans’ government shutdown and refusal to fully fund SNAP is not only leaving our families hungry, but it is also pushing local, small businesses and farmers out of business, destroying local economies, and leaving communities without an essential resource,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “Thank you to the Dorchester Food Co-op for having us and to the many corner store owners, nonprofit leaders, urban farmers, and grocers for the role you play in keeping our families fed. Together, we’ll keep pushing to end Republicans’ shameful government shutdown and get SNAP funds out the door, and we’ll keep choosing community over chaos.”




Congresswoman Pressley was joined at the convening by dedicated food providers and partners, including La Oaxaqueña Store Everett, Davey’s Super Market Roxbury, Tropical Foods (El Platanero), Mattapan Square Farmers Market, The Urban Farming Institute, Dorchester Food Co-op, Eastie Farm, Fresh Truck, as well as state and city officials, including Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy, Boston Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia, Boston Councilor At-Large Henry Santana, Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, the Boston Mayor’s Office of Food Justice, and the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative.




“The 140,000 Boston residents who rely on SNAP to purchase food for their families have begun to feel the impacts of this federal SNAP freeze as early as this past Saturday,” said Aliza Wasserman, Director of the City of Boston Office of Food Justice. “For over six decades, our communities have counted on this program to meet basic needs, and this unprecedented freeze by the Trump administration will have ripple impacts on Boston’s economy until it is fully restored.”





“These cuts to SNAP funding are cruel, unnecessary, and out of touch with the reality working families face every day,” said Council President Ruthzee Louijeune. “When we talk about building a better America, that starts with ensuring every family has food on the table. Instead, these actions move us backward. Boston will continue to stand with our most vulnerable residents and push for policies that reflect compassion and common sense.”





“Those who have the least right now stand to lose the most from these violent and disgraceful policy choices from Washington,” said Julia Mejia, Boston Councilor At-Large. “That said, having governed during the height of COVID and Trump 1.0, I know what these times call for: mutual aid, collective action, and the political will to protect one another by standing in the gap created by a hostile federal government.”





“As an At-large City Councilor representing the entire city, I am committed to ensuring that our families—especially our children—have access to the resources they need to avoid hunger,” said Henry Santana, Boston Councilor At-Large. “The ongoing government shutdown threatens that access, and having reliable food resources is essential for our families to thrive and stay healthy. In moments like these, we must stand united to protect SNAP benefits, support our local food providers, and keep our neighborhoods nourished and thriving.”





“At DFC, we’re grateful to exist at such a time like this to be a support, a hub, a food resource in a diverse community with complex needs,” Roudnie Célestin, Board Member, Dorchester Food Co-op. “The more prepared we are, the better equipped we’ll be to face any ripple effects families and people in our community could face due to this SNAP lapse.”





“This is a Lose-Lose-Lose situation for everyone. SNAP recipients, businesses, and the country,” said Ronn Garry, Tropical Foods. “SNAP benefits shouldn’t be a leverage point in a political battle. We need this situation to get resolved so that we can feed our communities.”





“When SNAP benefits shut down, the impact hits fast and hits home,” said Jacqueline Teixeira, Davey’s Super Market.“Families who depend on that support suddenly can’t afford the groceries they need, and food insecurity rises overnight. Those SNAP dollars don’t disappear — they stop flowing to local stores, markets, and small businesses that count on them. SNAP isn’t just a safety net; it’s the heartbeat of local economies, keeping shelves stocked, workers employed, and families fed. If we want strong communities, we need consistent SNAP funding that protects both people and small businesses.”





“During the early months of the pandemic, we were shocked to realize how many kids in our neighborhood were going hungry. One hungry child is too many,” said Kannan Thiruvengadam, Eastie Farm. “We are heartbroken that we are at the doorsteps of such a horrendous time once again—only this time it is 100% due to our own federal government. As a farm growing produce and connected to other small farms in the state, Eastie Farm is working harder to bring more produce to the community. Even so, lack of access to SNAP funding means we have to front the full cost of the produce boxes ourselves, which significantly limits the number of families we can support. We know that our partners, funders, sister community orgs, and local and state governments are all stretched. We are grateful to our congressional representative, Congresswoman Pressley, and Senators Warren and Markey, who are fighting to restore the critical assistance families need for sustenance. Thank you!”





“Eighty-five percent of our shoppers rely on SNAP and nutrition assistance programs. Right now, they’re scared, confused, and calling us to figure out how to feed their families. We want them to know they can still use their HIP benefits or other payment methods with us, and our markets will stay open,” said Fresh Truck. “But a family of four cannot feed themselves for the month with $60 worth of produce. HIP helps, but it’s not enough. Fresh Truck will keep showing up, but this crisis makes clear that local solutions cannot bear the full weight of federal failure. The programs we all pay into, with billions in reserves for moments like this, must be activated. And we need sustained investment in organizations like ours that make those benefits work on the ground.”





“The unprecedented delay in SNAP benefits has harmed Massachusetts households, retailers and farmers,” said MA Food System Collaborative. “Withholding of SNAP benefits cuts off a vital source of revenue for Massachusetts farmers and local food system businesses; every dollar of SNAP generates around $1.50 of economic activity and SNAP is a steady source of revenue for small retailers. The Collaborative is proud that Massachusetts continues to support SNAP retailers by funding the healthy incentives program (HIP). We call on the federal government to follow the courts and release contingency funds to fund SNAP.”





La suspensión temporal del programa EBT ha dejado a muchas familias en nuestra comunidad en una situación de profunda incertidumbre,” Felipa Celaya, fundadora de La Oaxaqueña. “Para miles de padres y madres, este apoyo representa la posibilidad de poner comida en la mesa; cuando se interrumpe, no solo se vacían sus hogares, también se resiente la economía de pequeños negocios como el nuestro, que dependemos del bienestar de quienes servimos. En La Oaxaqueña no hablamos de política, hablamos de personas reales: de familias que trabajan, que sueñan y que sostienen con esfuerzo a esta nación. Creemos que las decisiones públicas deben guiarse con empatía y sentido humano, recordando que detrás de cada programa hay historias, rostros y esperanzas que merecen ser escuchadas. Seguiremos trabajando con fe y compromiso, apoyando a nuestra comunidad como siempre lo hemos hecho, porque cuando una familia se levanta, toda la comunidad avanza.




Footage from the roundtable discussion is available here and footage from the press conference is available here. For photos, click here.



Amid the Republican-manufactured government shutdown, Rep. Pressley has continued to fight to defend healthcare, reopen the government, and protect federal workers and the essential services they provide.




  • Rep. Pressley joined Senator Ed Markey and leaders from Massachusetts food banks to sound the alarm on the growing crisis of food insecurity under the Republican government shutdown and its impact on Massachusetts families.

  • Rep. Pressley urged National Grid and Eversource to issue an immediate moratorium on utility shutoffs for households impacted by the government shutdown, including federal workers, federal contractors, and the people who depend on them.

    • Following the Congresswoman’s letter, National Grid of Massachusetts announced specific support and a payment plan opportunity for federal employees, contractors, and active military personnel in Massachusetts who are impacted by the government shutdown and concerned about paying their energy bill.



  • Rep. Pressley participated in a House Steering and Policy Committee hearing in which she slammed Republicans for raising healthcare costs for families across the country and shutting down the government instead of addressing the healthcare crisis they created.

  • Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the Democratic Women’s Caucus to call attention to the impacts of the Republican-manufactured health care crisis and government shutdown on women, families, and workers in the Massachusetts 7th and across the country.

  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.

  • Just days into the government shutdown, Rep. Pressley held an emergency convening in Boston to highlight the harm of the shutdown to MA-07 constituents – federal workers, patients, advocates, and more.

  • Amid government shutdown, Rep. Pressley and Senator Tina Smith reintroduced bill to provide back pay for federal contract workers, including low-wage food service and janitorial staff.

  • Just hours before the Republicans shut down the government, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open

  • Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.

  • Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.



Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has also been a champion for food security and justice and ensuring families have the essential food assistance they deserve. She has been an outspoken critic of the Big, Ugly Bill since its inception and Republicans’ harmful cuts to SNAP and other government service programs.




  • Rep. Pressley joins Rep. McGovern convened a listening session in East Boston with Project Bread to highlight the devastating impacts that Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill will have on Massachusetts families who rely on federal food assistance.

  • Rep. Pressley joined colleagues at a press conference imploring the House to reject the cruel and harmful legislation.

  • Rep. Pressley joined the Congressional Black Caucus and over 100 colleagues in stalling a vote on the Big, Ugly Bill.  

  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Senate’s passage of the Big, Ugly Bill and vowing to continue fighting it using every tool available.

  • Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates from Caring Across Generations, Care Can’t Wait, and partner organizations to protest Trump’s and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill that proposes disastrous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs and would leave communities sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable.

  • Ahead of the House’s vote on the bill, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor in which she made a direct appeal to her Republican colleagues to oppose this cruel and harmful bill.

  • Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed the bill’s proposed Medicaid cuts, which would decimate reproductive healthcare in America and worsen maternal health outcomes.

  • Rep. Pressley co-hosted a press conference with Color of Change to oppose the Republicans’ cruel and harmful budget reconciliation package, which would gut critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

  • In the House Oversight Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Rep. Pressley demanded Republicans answer to the families who would go hungry by way of this reconciliation bill – and she was met with silence.

  • In an impassioned speech on the House floor, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors.