SNAP Benefits in Jeopardy as Government Shutdown Reaches Day 32

SNAP at Risk: 42M Americans Face Food Aid Cuts Amid Shutdown

WASHINGTON — As the U.S. government shutdown enters its 32nd day, more than 42 million Americans risk losing access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits on November 1.

President Donald Trump’s administration initially stated it couldn’t fund the program during the shutdown. However, Trump later announced he had instructed federal lawyers to explore legal options to release SNAP payments, calling the delays unacceptable.

“If we are given proper legal direction, it will be my honor to provide the funding—just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement pay,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Legal and Political Battle

Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that the government cannot halt SNAP benefits during the shutdown, giving the administration until Nov. 3 to respond.
The rulings came as the Agriculture Department reversed earlier statements that a $5.25 billion contingency fund could sustain food aid. Officials now say the fund isn’t enough to cover the $9.2 billion required for November benefits.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that even if the contingency fund were usable, it would fall far short. “We simply cannot continue funding at this rate without congressional action,” she said Friday.

Partisan Gridlock Deepens

The government shutdown began Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a spending bill.

• Republicans want a short-term funding measure to reopen federal offices.
• Democrats demand restoring cuts to healthcare benefits as part of any deal.

House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed court efforts to redirect funds as “frivolous,” accusing Democrats of using the issue to gain political leverage.

“They’re using people as pawns in this game,” Johnson said.

SNAP Becomes a Political Flashpoint

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump initially suggested that most SNAP beneficiaries are Democrats, but later softened his tone.

“I don’t want Americans to go hungry just because Radical Democrats refuse to reopen the government,” he posted online.

Trump has also pressured Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster rule, allowing them to pass spending legislation with a simple majority and end the stalemate.

Impact on Everyday Americans

The ongoing shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay.

• 64,000 TSA employees and 13,000 air traffic controllers continue working unpaid.
• Millions of low-income families face uncertainty as food assistance programs stall.
• The shutdown could cost the U.S. economy up to $14 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

With November 1 marking both SNAP payment deadlines and ACA open enrollment, millions are bracing for financial hardship unless Congress reaches an agreement soon.