The 2025 Government Shutdown Thread

Democrats launch alternative bill to save SNAP funding

Senate Democrats are preparing to introduce their own bill to keep food aid benefits flowing for millions of Americans during the government shutdown ahead of a Nov. 1 funding cliff.

The legislation, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), could draw Democratic support away from a rival bipartisan plan by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), which pushes USDA and the Treasury Department to fully fund November benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative.

Luján’s bill, on the other hand, would require the administration to fund both SNAP and a separate food aid program serving low-income women and children. It would also require that states be reimbursed for funding benefits during the shutdown.

Most of the Democratic caucus, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer(D-N.Y.) and Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), have signed onto the latest legislation, though it notably has yet to pick up any Republican co-sponsors.

Their latest move comes after the Trump administration recently concluded it doesn’t have the legal authority to tap a USDA contingency fund to pay for billions of dollars worth of food aid next month. If Congress or the White House doesn’t step in with more money, SNAP benefits would lapse for the first time in modern history.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that it would cost the department $9.2 billion to fund November SNAP benefits, administrative costs and nutrition block grants for U.S. territories — and she emphasized that USDA does not have those dollars on hand.

Democratic officials from 25 states and the District of Columbia have already challenged the administration’s decision not to tap emergency funds in court. Meanwhile, senators are focused on finding short-term solutions with the government shutdown now in its fifth week.

~bella

bèlla said:

Their latest move comes after the Trump administration recently concluded it doesn’t have the legal authority to tap a USDA contingency fund to pay for billions of dollars worth of food aid next month.

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When has ambiguous legal authority ever stopped them before? What is the current situation if not a contingency?

As the ongoing shutdown of the federal government nears its 30th day, a new Yahoo/YouGov poll shows that nearly twice as many Americans want it to end with Democrats getting their way rather than Republicans.

Only 26% of Americans, meanwhile, approve of how President Trump has been handling the shutdown. A full 65% disapprove.

just 21% of Americans approve of efforts to fire "thousands of government workers… since the start of the shutdown"; a full 63% disapprove.

Likewise, only 23% of Americans approve of "billions of dollars in federal funding for projects across the country" being canceled, while 55% disapprove. And although Republicans are far more accepting of these measures than other Americans, the numbers who approve of firing federal workers (45%) and canceling federal projects (49%) aren’t especially high.

As for Trump — who has chosen not to engage in negotiations on Capitol Hill — his rating on handling the shutdown (again, 26% approve to 65% disapprove) is significantly worse than his overall job-approval rating (40% approve to 56% disapprove).

White House finds 11th-hour shutdown workaround to pay troops — for now

President Trump's budget team raided three different financial accounts to make sure U.S. troops are paid Friday as the government shutdown continues, White House officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: As long as military personnel are paid, Trump isn't planning to budge on the nearly month-old shutdown, even with as many as 42 million people set to lose food stamp benefits Saturday.

Earlier in the week it was unclear whether the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) could find roughly $5.3 billion to make the military's payroll by Friday, but two White House officials tell Axios the money was found at the last minute. The OMB found:

* $2.5 billion from a military housing fund specified in Trump's "big beautiful bill" to continue paying housing allowances for military personnel.

* $1.4 billion from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation fund, which largely will cover U.S. Army and Air Force payroll. The account normally funds military research and was heavily relied upon two weeks ago to cover military paychecks.

* $1.4 billion from a Defense Department procurement account for building U.S. Navy ships, largely to fund the Navy and Marines.

Democrats and liberal policy experts have accused the president of illegally usurping Congress' powers to appropriate money, but Trump and his congressional allies believe their opponents won't sue over work-arounds to pay the military because it would be too unpopular.

"It is politically tricky," Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) acknowledged to Axios weeks ago after accusing Trump of illegally moving money around. OMB denies the accusation and sent a memo, first reported by Axios, drawing on presidents as far back as George Washington to justify using money for the military without congressional authorization.

What they're saying: "President Trump is continuing to pay the troops despite Democratic resistance and he's not going to let them down," a senior White House official told Axios.

"We have identified more money if this goes longer.

~bella

essentialsaltes said:

What is the current situation if not a contingency?

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A judge appears to agree. Though the benefits (if she so rules) will be late and likely smaller than the full amount.

Judge indicates she’ll intervene in fight over SNAP food assistance money​

“Right now, Congress has put money in an emergency fund for an emergency, and it’s hard for me to understand how this isn’t an emergency when there’s no money and a lot of people are needing their SNAP benefits,” US District Judge Indira Talwani said near the end of a hearing, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the formal name for food stamps.

Though the judge’s options vary, one possibility is that she issues an emergency order that essentially compels the administration to tap into the emergency funds.

Much of the discussion during Thursday’s hearing centered around the fact that the contingency fund contains far less than what is needed to fully cover November benefits for the millions of Americans who receive them. The judge said multiple times that federal law made clear that when the government is unable to pay benefits, it should reduce what it provides, not suspend the program altogether.

essentialsaltes said:

As the ongoing shutdown of the federal government nears its 30th day, a new Yahoo/YouGov poll shows that nearly twice as many Americans want it to end with Democrats getting their way rather than Republicans.

Only 26% of Americans, meanwhile, approve of how President Trump has been handling the shutdown. A full 65% disapprove.

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Checks again to see when the midterms are due.

You heard him. The GOP must own the unpopular SNAP cuts and unpopular Obamacare cuts.

Trump 'SECRET ARMY' Rises To Crush U.S. Civil War? Pentagon In Action, New Force In Making | DETAILS

A Pentagon memo has ordered every U.S. state and territory to train National Guard “quick reaction forces” for riot control, crowd management, and civil disturbance response. Signed by Maj Gen Ronald Burkett, the directive mandates training of 23,500 troops nationwide, citing Trump’s earlier executive order to deploy the Guard in Washington DC. Another document establishes a permanent military police battalion in the capital, ready within 90 days. Critics warn the move could normalise militarised policing and raise fears of election interference, while the Pentagon remains silent on the plan’s broader intent.


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U.S. On Edge: Trump Cabinet Members In Underground Military Bases Amid Assassination Fears - Report

Senior Trump officials — including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller — have reportedly moved into US military bases near Washington amid security fears following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The relocation underscores rising tension and political unrest as the administration faces backlash and protests.

Living on bases like Fort McNair and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, these top figures cite “organized campaigns of dehumanization.” The White House has since labeled antifa a domestic terror group, heightening the national divide. Officials say the relocations are “temporary security measures.”

bèlla said:

Senior Trump officials — including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller — have reportedly moved into US military bases near Washington amid security fears following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The relocation underscores rising tension and political unrest as the administration faces backlash and protests.

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Trump had the head of the Coast Guard fired on his second day in office, later Noem moved into her house. It has nothing to do with Kirk.

essentialsaltes said:

A judge appears to agree. Though the benefits (if she so rules) will be late and likely smaller than the full amount.

Judge indicates she’ll intervene in fight over SNAP food assistance money​

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Judge orders administration to distribute SNAP contingency money amid shutdown​

"The court is orally at this time, ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the November 1 payments to be made," said U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.

Ruling that stopping SNAP funding violated the Administrative Procedure Act because the funding decision was arbitrary and capricious, Judge McConnell said, "There has been no explanation, legitimate or otherwise that's consistent with the APA as to why the contingency funds should not be used."

The ruling came as a federal judge in Boston, in a separate case, ruled that the Trump administration's attempt to suspend SNAP funding is "unlawful," but declined to immediately order that the program be funded.

**A Happy Story**

Our farmers markets participate in a program that extends SNAP benefits for shoppers. For every $25 they vend for market use they get $50 extra in return. In light of the dilemma with November benefits they provided SNAP customers with $75 without vending and plan to do so as long as they can.

I don’t know if the founder is christian but their commitment to the needy is admirable. In the midst of all we’ve heard that demonstrates otherwise. I wanted to share something positive.

~bella

‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown​

There’s no chance for Congress to resolve the shutdown and reopen the government before crossing the historic threshold Tuesday.

The ongoing funding lapse will hit the 35-day mark Tuesday night, eclipsing the partial shutdown that ended in early 2019 and also occurred under President Donald Trump. ["I am proud to shut down the government for border security"]

SNAP benefits will restart, but will be half the normal payment and delayed

The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP food benefits but it will pay out only half the amount people normally get.

The administration says it will use money from an Agriculture Department contingency fund. The $5 billion in that fund falls well short of the full cost of SNAP benefits — $8 billion — each month. In a court filing, officials said depleting that fund means "no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely."

The administration warns there could be lengthy delays before benefits get into the hands of low-income families who depend on SNAP to put food on the table.

The government said Monday that state agencies will have to recode their eligibility systems to adjust for the reduced benefits, and it is unclear how quickly state systems will be able to do so. It warned that in some states, these system changes "will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months."

Several states have said they will use their own funds to cover any shortfall in SNAP funding. However, the Trump administration has warned it will not reimburse states. Several states, including Arkansas, New Hampshire and Washington, have also announced measures to help support food banks and pantries.

What is clear is that a lot of money has disappeared from people's food budgets, and anti-hunger advocates say that food banks alone will not be able to make up the difference.

"We're in uncharted territory," Elizabeth Keever, chief resource officer at Harvesters, a food bank in Kansas City, Missouri, told NPR Sunday.

"It's nearly impossible to make up the gap that SNAP is leaving us, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that we are easing this burden for folks," Keever said. "It's just this really scary moment where there's a lot of uncertainty. So the gap is massive, and at the end of the day, food banks can't necessarily fill it."

~bella

Department of Transportation might be forced to shut down some airspace next week: Duffy​

"You will see mass chaos," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

"You will see mass flight delays. You'll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers."

Nearly 50% of all major air traffic control facilities face staffing shortages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Air traffic controllers are required to work without pay for the duration of the shutdown.

Duffy said last month that air traffic controllers could be let go if they didn't show up for work.

But the transportation secretary softened that stance over the weekend