The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a warning that millions of Americans could lose access to food stamp benefits next month if Senate Democrats continue to block a funding agreement. A notice on the USDA’s website stated that “no benefits will be issued on November 1st,” citing Democrats’ repeated refusal to approve a spending bill that funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The agency accused Democrats of prioritizing controversial healthcare subsidies for undocumented immigrants and gender-related medical procedures over ensuring that low-income families receive food assistance during the ongoing government shutdown.
The shutdown began on October 1 after Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-backed spending bill that excluded healthcare subsidies. Roughly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, which provided an average of $187 per participant per month in 2024. The federal government spent nearly $100 billion on the program last year. With no funding in place, millions of vulnerable households face uncertainty about how they will afford groceries in the coming weeks. In response to the crisis, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to use existing funds to pay military personnel during the shutdown.
Republicans have placed full blame on Senate Democrats, arguing that their spending priorities are “radical” and “wasteful.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accused them of diverting billions toward programs benefiting undocumented immigrants while cutting funds from rural hospitals. “They want to give $200 billion in health benefits to illegal aliens,” Johnson said, calling their approach “an insult to working Americans.”
As the shutdown nears one month, approximately 1.4 million federal employees — including TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and Border Patrol officers — have missed paychecks. Economic and political pressures continue to mount, with food insecurity emerging as one of the most immediate and visible consequences of the stalemate.
