Republicans block full SNAP benefits from being paid out this month
By: Giulia Carbonaro (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Giulia Carbonaro
Senate Republicans have blocked a push by Democrats to restore full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which has seen its resources run out over the weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer put forward a resolution backed by 44 Democrats in the upper house demanding that SNAP benefits be immediately restored for the roughly 42 million Americans who rely on the program to feed their families.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) would have been forced to release enough funds to support the delivery of SNAP benefits for November—an estimated $8 billion—if the measure had been passed.
However, Republicans blocked the initiative after Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso objected. He called the move a "political stunt," adding that reopening the government would be the easiest way to restore benefits.
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What Is Going on With SNAP Benefits?
The government shutdown, which began on October 1, is on the verge of surpassing the longest shutdown in U.S. history. That shutdown lasted 35 days between December 22, 2018, and January 25, 2019. The longer the shutdown continues, the longer it is likely to affect everyday Americans.
The SNAP program is funded by the USDA, while benefits are distributed by the states, which share administrative costs with the federal agency. Because of the government shutdown, the federal government said it did not have enough money to keep the program funded.
In late October, the USDA began informing state agencies that as of November 1, its Food and Nutrition Service was "suspending all November 2025 benefit allotments until such time as sufficient federal funding is provided." State agencies were urged to "take immediate action to implement this suspension," notifying households that they would not be receiving benefits this month.
On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it would use money from a USDA contingency fund to partially restore SNAP benefits, though it highlighted that they had $4.65 billion available—about half the $8 billion needed so that every recipient could receive assistance this month.
A sworn statement from a USDA official submitted in federal court on Monday said that its contingency fund would "be obligated to cover 50 percent of eligible households' current allotments" for November.
Where Does This Leave SNAP Recipients?
Millions of Americans are now facing food insecurity in the absence of SNAP benefits.
According to the USDA, about 42 million Americans received SNAP benefits in 2024, for a monthly average of $187 per person. In total, the program cost the government about $93.6 billion last year.
Some of the beneficiaries are among the most vulnerable individuals in the country. In 2023, according to the USDA, 34.3 percent of households receiving the benefits had children, 33 percent had an elderly individual, and 17.6 percent had an individual with a disability.
Without SNAP benefits, many Americans have been flocking to food banks to feed themselves and their families, though these are struggling to keep up with the sudden spike in demand.
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What Are Lawmakers Saying?
In his objection to the resolution that would have funded SNAP through November, Barrasso said it was within Democrats' power to end the shutdown and restore funding to the program right now—as long as they backed Republicans' spending bill and gave up on the demands that have created an impasse in the Senate.
"This isn't lawmaking. It's a political stunt by the Democrats. The resolution they're offering is empty. It is meaningless," the Wyoming Republican said. "If Democrats really wanted to help struggling families, they'd stop blocking a clean continuing resolution," he added.
"Democrats knew their actions threatened food assistance. They were fully aware of it," he continued, saying repeatedly that Democrats had voted against the spending bill 13 times. "If Democrats really wanted to help struggling families, they'd stop blocking a clean continuing resolution."
Barrasso accused Democrats of "playing dangerous political games" and using vulnerable Americans as "political pawns."
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After the resolution failed, Merkley accused Republicans in the Senate and the Trump administration of using vulnerable Americans for their own political purposes.
"President Trump has a new MAHA strategy—the 'Make America Hungry Agenda'—using food as a weapon to inflict harm on vulnerable kids, seniors, and families across America. It's wrong on every level," he said in a news release on Monday.
If the shutdown continues past Tuesday, it will become the longest in U.S. history.
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If Trump was a true leader he would call both sides to his office to hash it out.
But no.
JR, help me out here, who "isn't" voting to reopen the government?
"This isn't lawmaking. It's a political stunt by the Democrats. The resolution they're offering is empty. It is meaningless," the Wyoming Republican said. "If Democrats really wanted to help struggling families, they'd stop blocking a clean continuing resolution," he added.
Oe the Dems could just vote to reopen the government. East peasy!
Of course, reality is just the opposite of Thune's fraudulent statement and your ridiculous cartoon. To wit:
Pushed my ass, vote to reopen the government and funding is restored.
A partisan filibuster by 40 odd democrats is the only thing blocking full restoration of all benefits.