As the U.S. government shutdown enters its fourth week, Democrats in Congress remain unified in their stance: they will not approve a funding bill until their healthcare demands are met. This firm position continues even as millions of Americans face the growing threat of losing access to federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Read More
Democratic leaders have placed the blame squarely on President Donald Trump, accusing him of disengagement and misplaced priorities. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont expressed frustration, saying, “This is all on Trump. Trump is not engaged. Republicans don’t want to negotiate,” and called the president’s trip to Asia during the shutdown “a sign of how little they care.”
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia went further, describing it as “outrageous” that Trump would travel abroad amid a domestic funding crisis. “The message to President Trump is: Stay in America. Put America first. Sit down at the table with us and solve this issue,” Warner said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed similar sentiments, accusing the administration of using hunger as political leverage. “No American should go hungry,” Jeffries told reporters. “Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying to use hunger as a weapon to push their far-right policies into the spending bill.” He added that about $5 billion remains in emergency reserves that could temporarily sustain SNAP payments.
In an effort to protect food assistance, dozens of Democrats sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Bruk Rollins, arguing that the administration has both the funds and the authority to maintain SNAP benefits. Rollins, however, responded that the reserve funds would not be enough to continue payments to millions of Americans beyond November 1 unless Congress takes action.
Some Republicans have also voiced concern about the situation. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has proposed legislation to fund SNAP for the duration of the shutdown, a measure the administration reportedly supports, though it remains unclear whether the bill will advance.
Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas noted that resolving the stalemate would not be easy. “It’s easier said than done,” he said. “On one hand, you need to push Democrats to sit down at the table and get something done.” Marshall, a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, emphasized the importance of SNAP and WIC programs for pregnant and nursing women, calling them vital for public health.
Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri added that the key to resolving the crisis lies in Democrats agreeing to fund the government, underscoring the continuing partisan divide over spending priorities.
With both sides holding firm, the risk of interrupted food aid grows by the day. If the shutdown continues into November, millions of low-income Americans could face delays or suspensions in assistance — a scenario lawmakers on both sides say they want to prevent but have yet to resolve.
