Republican Rep. Has Truly Disgusting Advice for SNAP Recipients Whose Benefits Are About to Expire
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) acknowledged Thursday that federal food benefits are about to expire as a result of the current government shutdown, but he was unsympathetic to the millions of affected Americans, advising them to “quit smoking crack.”
The Louisiana Republican suggested it on X, formerly Twitter, sparking furious reactions.
“There are 22 million American households receiving SNAP benefits for food, at an average of $4,200 per year,” Higgins wrote. “Try to understand how many pantries you can stock with $4,200 worth of properly purchased food.”
He continued: “Any American who has been receiving $4,200 a year in free food and does NOT have at least 1 month of food stocked up should never get SNAP again, because wow, quit smoking crack.”
Payments from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will expire Saturday. The Department of Agriculture reported in July that 12.3% of U.S. residents relied on these benefits in 2024. In human terms, that’s nearly 42 million people.
“‘Stop smoking crack’. Way to play on old stereotypes,” one user wrote Thursday on X. “How much do you spend annually on food? I bet you have no idea. When was the last time you personally shopped for your family?”
Higgins seemed indifferent Thursday to the plight of his own constituents, as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported in January that approximately 847,100 residents in his own home state (or 18%) received SNAP benefits last year.
The MAGA Republican previously supported President Donald Trump in his run in the 2020 election, which he lost to former President Joe Biden before claiming that Democrats stole Republican votes. Higgins was criticized again Thursday for his baffling math.
Andrew Harnik/Pool/News
“$4,200 a year is $350 a month. With Trump inflation, that’s nothing,” one user wrote on
Others noted that the $4,200 figure Higgins used is not accurate for many SNAP households, and that representatives like him receive up to $79 a day for food and incidentals when Congress is in session. SNAP recipients, on average, receive just over $6 per day in assistance.
The government shutdown began Oct. 1 after Republicans voted against a Democratic spending bill that would expand subsidies for people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The Republican Party leadership has repeatedly blamed Democrats alone.
On Friday, a federal judge said the Trump administration falsely claims it cannot pay November food benefits. Judge Indira Talwani of the Massachusetts District Court stopped short of ordering the administration to do so.
Meanwhile, Higgins himself has received strong backlash for his comments.
“Stop smoking crack.” Heartless MAGA Republican Rep. Clay Higgins has no sympathy for Americans who are going to stop receiving SNAP benefits. He tells them they should have been hoarding food and “quit smoking crack.” pic.twitter.com/605RG3D5Io
– Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 31, 2025
BREAKING NEWS: LET THEM EAT…CRACK? Republican Congressman Disgustingly Slanders 40 Million Americans as Drug Addicts for Not Having Enough Food to Eat!
Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, whose state has nearly a million people who rely on food stamps to eat, insulted and belittled his… pic.twitter.com/GXG2AbmI8r– Occupy democrats (@Occupydemocrats) October 31, 2025
Members of Congress have daily meal allowances of up to $79 per day in Washington, DC. Members of Congress earn 174,000 a year. SNAP recipients receive $6.16 a day for food.
BBB cuts SNAP, but not Congressional food allocations. pic.twitter.com/5X6E1OGs8G— @Fievel131. (@Fievel131) October 30, 2025
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During COVID, I was spending $200 a week on baby formula. That’s more than $10,000 a year. So what the hell are you talking about $4200, like that’s a lot?
When was the last time you went shopping? Completely and utterly out of touch.
You should be ashamed of yourself.– Bruno Pereira (@BrunoNJ9th) October 31, 2025
Could you and your entire family survive on $350 a month for food? At current prices, that can barely feed a family of four for a few days. You can no longer deny that you want to starve people, so now you’re just trying to justify it.
– WarMonitor (@TheWarMonitor) October 31, 2025