The next is the transcript of the interview with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 2, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey, who joins us this morning from Boston. Governor, welcome to Face The Nation.
GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY: Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: A household of 4 receiving meals stamps makes $31,000 or much less per yr. That program offers lower than $200 a month to 1 in eight People. It’s 42 million individuals. I do know you joined this lawsuit to attempt to sue the administration to get them to make use of emergency funding to pay for meals stamps throughout the federal government shutdown. Given what occurred with the courts Friday, will meals stamp funds be going out this week? It’s your state that has to manage, administer this system, proper?
GOV. HEALEY: Yeah, I don’t know Margaret as a result of the President hasn’t mentioned whether or not he’s going to approve the discharge of these contingency funds. I imply, the, the affect of that is simply devastating. One in eight People, you say, I’ve about one in seven Massachusetts residents who’re on SNAP. I used to be at meals pantries yesterday. I imply individuals throughout our state don’t need to see individuals go hungry, however individuals awakened on Saturday morning not gaining access to their advantages. The rationale we sued, Margaret, 28 states, and I’m glad and grateful to the AGs for getting the favorable ruling. It principally tells the President do what you’re alleged to do, which is use the contingency funds which were put aside for precisely this goal, when there’s a shutdown amongst different issues, launch these funds, proceed the SNAP funds to our states. I strongly urge that. I hope it occurs instantly on Monday. Folks on this nation mustn’t go hungry, and I believe People don’t need to see their brothers and sisters go hungry.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, that federal decide in Rhode Island ordered full funds by Monday or partial SNAP funds by Wednesday. On one other community, the Treasury Secretary was requested if, if the administration would do exactly that, and he mentioned, could possibly be. Virtually talking how do you, how shortly are you able to flip it on? I imply, if that comes via Wednesday, do individuals in Massachusetts get to eat on Thursday?
GOV. HEALEY: No. I imply the issue, Margaret, with what the President has finished is that he lower this off and it takes just a few days to load up these playing cards. I imply wherever between two and 5 days. I’ll inform you what I’m doing as governor as a result of I’ve bought to guard my residents. I’ve set to work with others to ensure that they’re fed. We’ve superior funding to our meals pantries. We stood up a United Means fund, and already, you recognize, 3 million, I believe, in contributions have come via this week. Now we have seen an unbelievable outpouring of volunteers. I used to be at meals pantries yesterday, and the turnout is one thing. And, you recognize, however, however this isn’t sustainable. Proper? I imply we can’t proceed alongside this path, which is why he must launch these funds, as at the least one courtroom instructed him to do, proper now. As quickly as potential, as a result of it takes us time to load up these playing cards.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So right here’s how President Trump described the shutdown affect Friday. Take a pay attention.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: All they should do is say the federal government is open, and that’s the top of it. And you recognize, largely, once you speak about SNAP, you’re speaking about largely Democrats. However I’m President, I need to assist all people. I need to assist Democrats and Republicans. However once you’re speaking about SNAP, when you look, it’s largely Democrats. They’re hurting their very own individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Doesn’t he have a degree that your get together is liable for a few of this ache?
GOV. HEALEY: Completely not and, frankly, that’s a extremely insulting remark. You understand, Margaret, I’ve bought 21,000 veterans, women and men who’ve served our nation, who’re SNAP beneficiaries in Massachusetts, who had their advantages turned off, who face starvation proper now. To be clear, you need to know who SNAP beneficiaries are on this nation? They’re our seniors, they’re children, they usually’re individuals with disabilities. They reside in each state, in each metropolis and city round this nation. And for the President to even counsel one thing like that or to say one thing like that’s insulting. And that is the half, that is the issue with, with D.C. You confirmed the ballot, proper? I imply, on the finish of the day, the President and Republicans management the Home, the Senate and the White Home, and, you recognize, Mike Johnson hasn’t had these guys again in session, I believe, however for 12 out of 100 of the final days. So get again to Washington, get again to the desk. Kind this out. People need to see that individuals are fed. They need to ensure that they’ve entry to little one care, as a result of well being, Head Begin’s getting turned off too. And so they don’t need to see their well being premiums go up. I imply, that’s what’s taking place proper now, and the affect is being felt in every single place
MARGARET BRENNAN: We checked and the highest 5 states or districts with the best proportion of residents who use meals stamps are New Mexico, D.C., Louisiana, Oregon and Oklahoma. Two of these states are ruby purple and voted for President Trump in final election. I believe that’s what you’re pointing to when it comes to insult, however on the substance of why we’re on this shut down, Democrats have refused to signal on to a clear authorities funding invoice. On that time, don’t Democrats bear some accountability?
GOV. HEALEY: What Democrats in Congress did is stand with tons of of 1000’s, thousands and thousands of People proper now who’re seeing their premiums go up. I’ve bought individuals in Massachusetts who simply bought notices due to the expiration of the subsidies. They’re going to see their premiums rise as a lot as $20,000. American households can’t afford that, you recognize. And I’m centered on financial hardship and what I can do to guard my individuals and I believe most of us are in our states as governors, which is why the parents in D.C. have to get again to work. Mike Johnson must name his members again as a result of how are you going to get a negotiation when you’re not even in D.C., proper? You bought to get again to D.C. The president has bought to provide a transparent directive to Republicans that they should reopen authorities as a result of People are struggling and proceed to endure each single day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor, Healy, thanks on your time this morning. We’ll be again in a second.
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