Trump faces critical point in government shutdown, SNAP cutoff

[ad_1] President Donald Trump, again from a weeklong diplomatic journey to Asia, inserted himself into the shutdown struggle in Washington in a single day with a name on Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster and unilaterally reopen the federal government.

The request to vary the standard rule, although, was rapidly rebuffed by Majority Chief John Thune.

Which means the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats continues with no apparent finish in sight. If not resolved earlier than Wednesday, it should turn out to be the longest shutdown in U.S. historical past.

A brand new ballot from ABC Information/Washington Submit/Ipsos discovered extra People blame Trump and the Republicans in Congress than the Democrats for the shutdown.

It stays to be seen whether or not Trump turns into extra personally concerned in ending the deadlock because the political threat develop, particularly as People critically start to really feel and see the impacts, together with strains at meals banks and aviation delays.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Pressure One earlier than departure from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, October 31, 2025.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

On Saturday, the federally funded Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) is ready to lapse. Which means roughly 42 million People who depend on the meals stamp program shall be weak as they're unable to get advantages.

Saturday additionally marks the beginning of open enrollment for Inexpensive Cart Act recipients, lots of whom are going through a lot greater insurance coverage premiums subsequent yr because of expiring tax credit.

Democrats are demanding President Trump and Republicans work with them to increase the ACA subsidies. Trump and Republican say they will not negotiate till the federal government is reopened.

Trump on Friday doubled down on that strategy.

"I am all the time keen to satisfy. All they should do is open up the nation. Allow them to open up the nation and we’ll meet," Trump stated as he stepped off Air Pressure One in Florida, the place he'll spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago property.

Lawmakers are additionally out of city, with the Home out of session subsequent week and the Senate not set to return till Monday night time.

Trump strikes funds for army, however not for SNAP Trump has made a number of strikes to maintain the army paid in the course of the shutdown. He accepted a $130 million donation from a personal donor. Then, the White Home Workplace of Administration and Price range shifted $5.3 billion in funds from different sources to pay army members on Oct. 31.

Is there a risk that Trump can do the identical for SNAP?

"Properly, there all the time is," Trump stated on Friday earlier than instantly pointing the finger at Democrats.

"However all of the Democrats should do is say let's go. I imply, you recognize, they don’t should do something. All they should do is say the federal government is open, and we solely want 5 Democrats. However they're, you recognize, they've turn out to be a radical left social gathering," the president stated.

Carts stuffed with groceries wait to be given to folks in want at Curley's Home Meals Financial institution days earlier than the Supplemental Diet Help Program advantages could expire as a result of Federal authorities shutdown, October 30, 2025 in Miami.

Joe Raedle/Getty Photos

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a information convention Friday morning alongside Home Speaker Mike Johnson, insisted the division's contingency fund can’t legally be used maintain SNAP funded throughout a shutdown.

"It's a contingency fund that may solely circulation if the underlying appropriation is accepted. And pay attention, even when it may circulation, it would not even cowl half of the month of November. So right here we're, once more, in two weeks, having the very same dialog," she stated.

SNAP funding has been the main target of a number of lawsuits, with Democratic states suing the administration to maintain the funds flowing. One federal decide on Friday quickly ordered the Trump administration to proceed funding advantages, although the administration may attraction.

Late Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform that authorities legal professionals "don't suppose we've got the authorized authority to pay SNAP with sure monies we've got obtainable," however that "it should BE MY HONOR to offer the funding identical to I did with Army and Regulation Enforcement Pay" if the courtroom would "make clear how we will legally fund SNAP as quickly as attainable."

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks alongside Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson throughout a information convention on Capitol Hill on October 31, 2025 in Washington.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos

Democrats have taken intention at Trump, saying he hasn't finished sufficient to intervene. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer accused Trump of getting "bowed down" to Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Asia whereas two crises are quickly to unfold at house on meals support and well being care.

"Trump is a vindictive politician and a heartless man," Schumer stated on the Senate ground on Thursday.

Republicans, then again, argue Democrats are those holding the federal government hostage.

“That’s how a baby behaves. That isn't how a accountable governing social gathering behaves in america of America,” Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday after main a White Home roundtable on the affect of the shutdown on the aviation trade. Vance stated vacation journey for People shall be a "catastrophe" if the deadlock is not over.