Religious leaders take part in monthly fast in opposition to Trump's budget cuts

Religious leaders and anti-hunger activists are taking part in a monthly fast in protest of President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts for federal nutritional assistance programs.

The group, organized by Bread for the World, has been fasting monthly since May, when the White House proposed major cuts to health care, food assistance and other safety-net programs for the poor.

"The Bible makes clear that nations, kings and rulers are really judged by one thing — and that's on how they treat the poorest and most vulnerable," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, president of the Christian advocacy group Sojourners.

"That's the test. That's the moral test of leaders. This budget is an assault on the very people that Jesus told us to help. It's clear as clear can be," he continued.

The group initially started fasting for three consecutive days, but now, they only do it once a month. The activists will be fasting again on Aug. 21 and they intend to continue until the budget is finalized, according to USA Today.

The advocates fear that the cuts would increase the burden on private aid as federal nutritional aid programs provide nearly 20 times more food assistance than private charities do.

Bread for World claims that 350,000 religious congregations in the U.S. will have to raise an additional $40,000 each year for the next decade to make up for the reduced benefits if the proposed cuts are implemented.

"When we look at the Trump budget and we saw nearly one and a half trillion came from non-defense programs that help alleviate hunger," said Christine Melendez Ashley, deputy director for Bread for the World.

"We believe we can end hunger by 2030 but not if we're cutting programs like SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid," she added.

In November 2013, the budget for SNAP has been cut by $11 billion dollars, and it was followed by an $8 billion cut in February 2014. Trump's proposed budget called for a $200 billion cut to the program.

A federal spending bill has to be passed by the Congress by Sept. 30 when the federal fiscal year ends to avoid a government shutdown.

The group is now mobilizing their communities to reach out the members of the Congress to join them in protesting the budget cuts. No lawmakers are currently participating in the monthly fast, but the advocates have already asked some of them and have hopes that they will eventually join the protest.