A tense Capitol Hill hearing erupted Thursday when Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) pressed a leading anti-hunger advocate on a question many Americans might consider simple: Should taxpayer-funded food assistance be used to purchase sugary soft drinks?
The exchange quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from a House Oversight Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee hearing focused on waste, fraud, and abuse within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Gill’s questioning targeted Gina Plata-Nino, Director of SNAP Policy and Advocacy for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), an organization that advocates for expanding food assistance programs nationwide.
