Congresswoman Shontel Brown isn’t holding back when it comes to what she calls one of the most heartless political maneuvers in recent memory.
Millions of Americans depend on the federal shutdown of SNAP benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to eat, but the Trump administration has halted it as the government shutdown intensifies.
“Somebody in the White House must think it’s brilliant strategy to shut down SNAP,” Brown wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “I call it what it is: cruel, callous, careless, immoral and illegal.”
That same day, the Ohio Democrat delivered a fiery statement from her district, drawing national attention to the devastating impact of the Trump-backed shutdown on working families, seniors, and children.
“Twenty-one percent of the people in my district rely on SNAP to keep food on the table — that’s one in five,” Brown said. “So when it comes to Trump’s illegal SNAP shutdown, I take this personally.”
Diane Does Not Deserve This
Brown shared the story of Diane, a 75-year-old woman from her district who depends on just $63 a month in food benefits to survive. Standing in a local supermarket, Diane told the congresswoman how even that modest amount barely stretches to cover essentials, a package of ground beef, canned vegetables, fruit, and a loaf of bread.
“She’s a pillar in her community,” Brown said. “She spends her days advocating for others. And yet, even she can’t afford what’s in her grocery basket. Diane does not deserve this.”
Brown’s message was aimed directly at those in power, both the White House and Republican leadership in Congress, who she accuses of using food aid as a political pawn.
“Somebody in Speaker Johnson’s office may think this is a brilliant strategy,” Brown said, “but I’m going to call it out for what it really is — cruel, callous, careless, immoral, and illegal.”
The Human Cost of Political Gamesmanship
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, supports more than 40 million Americans, including working-class families, children, and the elderly. The program’s sudden suspension has left many scrambling to afford groceries amid rising food costs.
Brown, who represents Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, said she’s seen the fear and confusion firsthand. “The people I represent do not deserve the pain, stress, and anxiety this is going to cause,” she said.
Her statement underscored a larger frustration with Washington gridlock, where vulnerable Americans often become collateral damage in partisan standoffs.
“This is what happens when people in power only care about people with perceived power,” Brown said. “It’s time for Republicans to take the locks off the doors of the House chamber and do the right thing for the people we represent.”
Release the Funds, Cancel the Cuts
Brown’s demand was clear and uncompromising.
“It is time for the White House to release the funds. It is time for Republicans to open the government, release the funds, and cancel the cuts,” she declared.
Her remarks struck a chord online, resonating with millions who rely on food assistance programs and who see themselves in Diane’s story.
As grocery prices soar and safety nets shrink, Brown’s impassioned plea puts the focus back where she says it belongs, on the people trying to survive.
“Folks in my district are working hard just to make ends meet,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to fight their own government for food.”
