Senate Republicans have made it clear that they will block Democratic efforts to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) past November 1, 2025, despite growing calls from lawmakers and advocates for a stopgap measure to prevent a humanitarian crisis. The proposed bill from New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján, which would extend SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, faces resistance from Majority Leader John Thune. Thune accused Democrats of using the bill as a ‘cynical attempt’ to prolong the government shutdown, suggesting that the program’s continuation is being leveraged for political cover. This stance mirrors the broader GOP strategy of using the shutdown to pressure Democrats to reopen the government, a move critics argue is undermining the needs of vulnerable populations.
The situation highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party, with some lawmakers like Susan Collins of Maine pushing for a solution to protect SNAP beneficiaries in their states, while others, including Thune and Josh Hawley, align with efforts to pressure Democrats. Collins, who has emphasized the importance of SNAP for 12 percent of Mainers, has urged both the USDA and the Trump administration to act to avert a potential lapse in benefits. Meanwhile, the White House has remained evasive, with Trump offering contradictory statements on the issue, first saying that ‘we’ll get it done’ and later urging Democrats to resolve the crisis. This lack of clarity has left many lawmakers and advocacy groups scrambling for a contingency plan.
Democrats, however, argue that the Trump administration has the legal authority to access a $5 billion contingency fund or redirect USDA funds to continue SNAP operations during the shutdown. A group of 25 Democratic governors and attorneys general have already filed lawsuits against the administration for its inaction. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) has criticized Trump for ‘inflicting pain upon vulnerable people,’ framing the standoff as an ethical and humanitarian issue rather than a partisan dispute. Speaker Mike Johnson, on the other hand, has argued that Congress must author the funding for SNAP, pointing to the failure of Democrats to pass a stopgap spending bill. This tension underscores the broader challenge of balancing political strategy with the urgent needs of millions of Americans.
As the deadline approaches, the situation remains highly volatile. If Congress fails to act, the SNAP program will face its first-ever lapse, which could have devastating consequences for low-income households and children across the country. The standoff reflects deeper political and legal challenges, with bipartisan calls for a resolution growing stronger amid concerns over the human toll of the shutdown. The outcome of this crisis will not only shape the trajectory of the government shutdown but also test the administration’s ability to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable in the nation.