Trump, who had no hesitation in giving billionaires a $1.5 trillion tax cut, just stripped nearly 700,000 poor people off food stamps. The Trump administration argued that cutting assistance to the poor, who needed it most, was done to be more "respectful of the taxpayers who fund the program." America's concern for the taxpayer certainly didn't extend to the bank bailout when the rich were given a free pass following the 2008 financial crash. America approves of socialism only when it's for the rich. The decision that was announced on Wednesday will have many lose access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), according to a report by NBC News. The government claimed the new move would "save" it $5.5 billion across five years. Democrat Chuck Schumer tweeted: The Trump Administration is driving the vulnerable into hunger just as the Christmas season approaches. It is heartless. It is cruel. And it exposes a deep and shameful hypocrisy in Donald Trump's administration.

"We’re taking action to reform our SNAP program in order to restore the dignity of work to a sizable segment of our population and be respectful of the taxpayers who fund the program," said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. "Americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch. That’s the commitment behind SNAP, but, like other welfare programs, it was never intended to be a way of life." The change will limit access to the federal food safety net and render close to 700,000 hungry. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule change applies to those between the ages of 18 and 49, who are childless and not disabled. USDA announced it was an extension of Trump's 2018 executive order, "Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility.”

95% of the poorest counties & 8/10 of the poorest states are GOP states.



Cost to the $50K Taxpayer per year:

Trump’s Farmer Bailouts—$150

Corporate Subsidies—$870

Corporate Tax Loophole Offsets—$1600



Food Stamps—$36



“For I was hungry and you gave me food.” Matthew 25:35#SNAP https://t.co/mVEfGvkeic — Trinity Resists (@TrinityResists) December 4, 2019

Stacy Dean, the food assistance policy vice president at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, didn't mince his words as he stated that the Trump administration was targeting the economically weaker section of the society. "The policy targets very poor people struggling to work — some of whom are homeless or living with health conditions. Taking away basic food assistance from these individuals will only increase hardship and hunger while doing nothing to help them find steady full-time work," said Dean.

Pay attention.



This is what cruelty looks like: https://t.co/gU5Zzgvhfd — The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) December 4, 2019

Earlier the rules stated that those seeking assistance should work at least 20 hours a week for more than three months over a 36-month period. Many states taking into account the high unemployment rates waived off the conditions. The new rule change from the Trump administration will stop states from waiving the standards for states crippled by unemployment. The government has said that only states with a 6 percent unemployment rate or higher can waive off the required standards. This is highly exclusionary considering the national unemployment rate was recorded at 3.6 percent in October.

New Trump admin rule changes will cause 3.7 million low-income people to lose food stamps, according to an Urban Institute study. Nearly 1M students will also be cut off from free or reduced school lunches under the changes, which create stricter work requirements. pic.twitter.com/IQHBhEj6y1 — NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 4, 2019

The USDA estimates that about 688,000 people would lose access to food stamps, a drop from the original estimate, 750,000. Democratic senator Debbie Stabenow slammed the move and stated that it wouldn't help in securing anyone jobs. "This Administration is out of touch with families who are struggling to make ends meet by working seasonal jobs or part-time jobs with unreliable hours. Seasonal holiday workers, workers in Northern Michigan’s tourism industry, and workers with unreliable hours like waiters and waitresses are the kinds of workers hurt by this proposal," Stabenow said.

Hi. The Trump Administration is kicking people of off food stamps during the holidays. Cruelty is the point. “Pro-life” it ain’t. — ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) December 5, 2019

Stabenow also claimed that there was bipartisan support against the new move. "There’s a reason Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly rejected this callous proposal in the Farm Bill and instead focused on bipartisan job training opportunities that actually help families find good-paying jobs,” she said. According to The Guardian, James D Weill, the president of the Food Research and Action Center, labeled the cuts as “deeply flawed and ill-conceived." He also argued that it would only cause higher rates of hunger and poverty. "The final rule would cause serious harm to individuals, communities and the nation while doing nothing to improve the health and employment of those impacted by the rule," said James D Weill.

21 days before Christmas and Donald Trump just cut food stamps for 700,000 Americans because Republicans don’t give a fucking shit about the poor.



Many of them claim to be “Christians”, but that’s a bunch of bullshit too.



GREED IS THEIR GOD. — Ryan Knight 🏳️‍🌈🗽 (@ProudResister) December 5, 2019