Congressional Democrats are marching in lockstep into the fourth week of a government shutdown, even as lawmakers brace for what could be the most devastating consequence yet: a halt in federal food aid for more than 40 million Americans. Yet, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are signaling no change in strategy—Democrats will not provide the votes needed to reopen the government unless their demands regarding healthcare are met. They are simultaneously escalating their criticism of President Donald Trump for his failure to sit down for negotiations with Democrats, choosing instead to embark on his second foreign trip during the ongoing shutdown, reports Baltimore Chronicle with a link to CNN.
Escalating Criticism Against President Trump
A visibly frustrated Senator Peter Welch of Vermont told CNN, “This is all Trump.” The Democrat argued that Trump is “not engaged. Republicans won’t negotiate,” and cited Trump’s trip to Asia this week as “an indication of how he could care less.” Senator Mark Warner of Virginia was even more blunt, labeling it “outrageous” that Trump would take another foreign trip with the government shut down. “The message is, frankly, President Trump: ‘Stay in America. Put America first. Sit down with us and work this out,'” Warner emphasized.
Democratic Unity Amid Mounting Crisis
Democrats are maintaining fierce unity, both publicly and privately, with lawmakers and senior aides telling CNN that they are prepared to stick with the party’s strategy for the foreseeable future. The prevailing belief among Democrats on Capitol Hill is that Republicans will be forced to concede first, particularly as they anticipate millions of Americans will discover their healthcare premiums are spiking when open enrollment begins on November 1.
The Threat to Food Aid (SNAP)
However, another major deadline looms at the start of November. Washington is about to face what could be the most significant effect of the shutdown to date, with roughly 42 million people at risk of losing critical food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). When asked about the SNAP deadline, which is causing deep anxiety across Washington, Representative Pete Aguilar, the No. 3 House Democrat, stated: “We understand this is not easy, and this is going to be painful. Everybody is feeling this, and I think that our message to the American public is, we’re fighting to protect your health care.”
USDA Stance and Trump’s Comments
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Sunday that it will not use its $6 billion contingency fund to cover food stamp benefits next month as the government shutdown continues. “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01,” a statement on the USDA’s website reads.
In contrast, when asked on Friday whether he would direct the USDA to fund food stamps next month, Trump told reporters: “Yeah, everybody is going to be in good shape, yep.” The president did not offer additional details, but his remarks appeared to contradict the agency’s statement.
Union Calls and Behind-the-Scenes Pressure
Meanwhile, Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing more than 800,000 federal employees, issued a statement on Monday saying it was “past time” for the stalemate to end, for furloughed workers to be immediately returned to work, and for those who missed their paychecks to receive back pay. Kelley called on lawmakers to pass a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. Republicans have put forward such a resolution that would reopen the government in the short term—until November 21—but Democrats have repeatedly blocked it.
Behind the scenes, GOP lawmakers and senior aides believe the White House is eager to find some way to keep those SNAP payments flowing to the neediest Americans. Members of both parties—including GOP and Democratic governors—have been furiously pushing the White House to find a way to avoid that outcome, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Democrats insist Trump can save the program if he chooses to. They are also criticizing the White House for its $20 billion bailout to Argentina while the massive domestic food aid program remains at risk.
Accusations of “Weaponizing Hunger”
“Not a single American should go hungry. And the challenge that we confront right now is that Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying to weaponize hunger in order to jam their extreme right wing policies in their spending bill down the throats of the American people,” Jeffries told reporters on Friday, arguing that the Trump administration has approximately $5 billion in an emergency contingency fund that could be utilized for the SNAP program.
As part of their pressure campaign, dozens of Democrats signed a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Friday, arguing that the administration has the existing funds and authority to fully fund SNAP benefits. Rollins, however, has stated that there will not be enough funds for the food aid benefits for millions by November 1 if Congress does not act.
Republican Proposal and the “Pressure Point”
One GOP lawmaker—Missouri Senator Josh Hawley—is so concerned about SNAP that he has introduced legislation to fund the program for the duration of the shutdown. Last Thursday, Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations Mae Brooke Leavitt said the administration would support the bill, but it is not clear whether it will be considered.
Asked on Thursday whether Trump should work to alleviate some of the pressure points in the shutdown, like SNAP benefits, another GOP senator suggested there may be procedural hurdles. “I think it’s simpler said than done,” responded Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, adding, “On the one hand, there needs to be some pressure to put on the Democrats to come to the table and do something.” Marshall, who is also an obstetrician-gynecologist, expressed “a lot of concern” about the SNAP and WIC programs. He observed, “It is very important to my practice. Lots of pregnant women, breastfeeding women use that program as well. I think it’s a good pressure point for them.” GOP Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri said the solution for the shutdown’s various pressure points was “for the Democrats to vote to fund the government.”
Earlier we wrote that Trump Ally Timothy Mellon Identified as Donor Behind $130 Million Pentagon Contribution
