AOC slams Trump over food stamp cuts, says her family 'might’ve just starved'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the Trump administration for making cuts to food stamps that will cause nearly 700,000 people to lose access.
The Trump administration finalized a rule on Wednesday that tightens work requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Agriculture said that about 688,000 people would lose access to food stamps due to the new work requirements, NBC News reported.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the change on Twitter, saying that her family used the program and may have "starved" if these cuts were made when they did.
"My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48. I was a student," she said. "If this happened then, we might’ve just starved. Now, many people will."
My family relied on food stamps (EBT) when my dad died at 48.
I was a student. If this happened then, we might’ve just starved.
Now, many people will.
It’s shameful how the GOP works overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most. https://t.co/WOrYvhfPj4— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 5, 2019
Currently, able-bodied, childless adults are required to work at least 20 hours a week for more than three months over a 36-month period to qualify for food stamps, but states can limit those standards in areas with a high unemployment rate.
The new rules, which take effect April 1, limit states from waiving those standards and restrict their use to areas with a 6 percent unemployment rate or higher, according to NBC News.
AOC continued by calling out the GOP for the "shameful" move.
"It’s shameful how the GOP works overtime to create freebies for the rich while dissolving lifelines of those who need it most," she added.
