STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two of New York’s top elected officials are calling on the federal government to maintain crucial food assistance programs amid the ongoing shutdown.

On Thursday, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to demand that President Donald Trump fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Earlier this month, the federal government directed states to withhold issuing such benefits for the month of November unless the government shutdown has been resolved and funding for federal agencies has been reinstated.

However, the lawmakers claim that there are billions of dollars in contingency funds available to keep the programs running,

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