The federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 has entered its 35th day, delaying food assistance for roughly 42 million people as court orders push the administration to issue partial November SNAP benefits from limited USDA reserves. Political stalemate over Affordable Care Act subsidies persists while tech nonprofits and local charities try to fill the gap.
The shutdown reached day 35 on Nov. 4, with no agreement in sight after funding lapsed at the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. Senate Democrats continue to resist GOP stopgap bills while pressing to address expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits; Republicans insist the government must reopen before health-care talks proceed. NPR’s Steve Inskeep noted the 35-day mark in an interview with House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. (wuwm.com)
Democrats say the enhanced ACA subsidies—first enacted during the pandemic and extended through 2025—must be renewed to avert steep 2026 premium hikes. Republicans have framed Democrats’ push as a bid to underwrite health care for undocumented immigrants, a claim fact-checked as false because federal law bars undocumented people from ACA plans or subsidies. (kff.org)
SNAP payments did not arrive on Nov. 1, but two federal judges ordered the administration to tap emergency funds. In response, officials said they would use about $4.65 billion from a USDA contingency fund—roughly half of a normal month’s $8 billion—to restart benefits in part, warning that system changes could delay payments for weeks or even months. (wlrn.org)
Complicating matters, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “SNAP BENEFITS … will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government … and not before!” The White House later said it would follow court orders to use contingency funds, but uncertainty around timing remains for recipients. (wsaw.com)
Private aid is trying to bridge the gap. Propel, maker of a widely used EBT app, began sending $50 cash transfers to high-need SNAP households identified through its platform and says it has targeted about 230,000 families. Propel has seeded the effort with $1 million and, with partners including GiveDirectly and Robin Hood, says roughly $6 million has been raised so far—far short of federal scale but immediate for some families. (kpbs.org)
On Capitol Hill, Republicans say Democrats have repeatedly blocked votes to advance a stopgap bill; by early this week, the Senate had held roughly a dozen such failed votes, including attempts focused on keeping food aid flowing. (theguardian.com)
Aviation disruptions are mounting as air traffic controllers work without pay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week of “mass chaos,” saying parts of U.S. airspace could close if the shutdown persists and controllers miss a second paycheck. Airports have already seen intermittent delays—including at Newark—as the FAA slows traffic to manage staffing. (pbs.org)
Democrats are divided over tactics. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania urged his party to back reopening the government immediately, saying, “I refuse to put 42 million Americans into that kind of food insecurity.” (realclearpolitics.com)
What’s next: Courts have compelled partial SNAP payments, but the program’s full monthly benefits remain unfunded amid the stalemate. Unless Congress moves to reopen the government and address the ACA subsidies at the heart of the dispute, families, states, airlines and federal workers face growing strain in the days ahead. (wlrn.org)
