Trump pledges to keep food aid flowing as US shutdown drags on
Trump pledges to keep food aid flowing as US shutdown drags on
Amid a prolonged government shutdown, Trump signals possible legal steps to fund SNAP, while courts push for emergency food benefits.
With the U.S. government still shut down after October 1, the ripple effects are spreading far beyond the Budget Office. In a Truth Social post, President Trump said he does not want people to go hungry and suggested the administration would look for a way to fund SNAP as soon as possible, even as he acknowledged that lawyers believe there may be no immediate legal authority to pay benefits once funding expires on November 1. He also instructed officials to clarify how funding could be provided if legally permissible.
A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary order directing the White House to use emergency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown, a measure aimed at preventing gaps in food assistance. Yet the administration contends it cannot legally tap that fund, and it remained unclear whether SNAP payments would reach households over the weekend despite the court’s directive. Officials said they were exploring all options, but no immediate solution was announced.
The shutdown has now stretched into its second month, leaving many federal workers without pay and leaving a broad swath of the population potentially exposed to service interruptions. The potential loss of SNAP benefits threatens roughly 42 million Americans who rely on monthly food assistance, a figure that has intensified political jockeying as lawmakers struggle to end the impasse.
The crisis isn’t limited to food aid. The shutdown also jeopardizes health care subsidies that help more than 20 million people afford insurance, highlighting the broader economic stakes. At airports across the country, staffing shortages and unpaid air traffic controllers have led to delays and disruptions, with the Thanksgiving travel period looming and the industry urging Congress to resolve the stalemate.
As the political back-and-forth continues, supporters on both sides warn of real-world consequences for families, workers, and travelers. The coming days are likely to bring renewed pressure on lawmakers to broker a funding deal that could restore services and avert further hardship for millions of Americans.
Cover image source: U.S. judge directs Trump administration to provide SNAP food aid benefits amid shutdown 🔗
