WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans faced going hungry this weekend after Senate Democrats blocked a government funding bill 13 times in six weeks, keeping vital food programs offline ahead of the New York City mayoral election and gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.
“They’re setting everything up for next week. They know they’ve got to get out,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told Politico on Friday, referring to the Democratic strategy. “If they do it before Tuesday, then their base may not show up because it looks like they caved. That’s why they’re setting everything up to open next week. We’ll be open next Wednesday, or Wednesday night, or Thursday.”
The real-world impact is dire for nearly 42 million poor Americans enrolled in the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whose benefits are at risk due to Democrats’ refusal to drop demands to extend ObamaCare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
“Democrats have instigated a disgusting dereliction of duty unlike anything I have seen in all my years doing this work,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Capitol Hill press conference alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Rollins added she was “embarrassed” by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), calling him the shutdown’s driving force.
“He is going out of his way to please the likes of [NYC mayoral candidate] Zohran Mamdani, a man who is polarizing America with his socialist rhetoric and anti-American principles,” Rollins said. “The very essence of government responsibility is to the citizens who live and work here, to protect their interests first — unless you are a Democrat in the United States Senate.”
The standoff deepened on Friday following two court rulings from federal judges appointed by former President Barack Obama.
In Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the administration to redirect $6 billion in unallocated emergency funds toward SNAP benefits, despite the administration’s argument that those funds can only be used in catastrophic events such as hurricanes.
Similarly, in Boston, Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the administration could not allow SNAP benefits to run out once November began. The Justice Department was expected to appeal but had not done so by the close of business Friday.
Democrats expressed relief following the rulings. A congressional source told The Post, “The court order puts more heat on the GOP to negotiate.”
Moments later, former President Donald Trump stated he had “instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
“It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out,” Trump added on Truth Social.
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay. The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Even prior to Friday’s rulings, a Democratic Capitol Hill source said no end was in sight to the second-longest shutdown in American history.
“There has been some outreach by GOP members from the House and Senate in states that have now gotten health insurance premium increases, but it hasn’t yet meant GOP leaders are willing to listen to that,” the source said. “The weekend seems status quo, but talks continue.”
Republican leaders have offered potential off-ramps, including a bill to separately pay military service members and another to fund SNAP benefits.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has also proposed a separate bipartisan bill to extend Obamacare subsidies, but insists that Democrats first vote on a continuing resolution to restore government funding.
“If something was going to happen, Thune would’ve kept them there over the weekend,” the source added.
The House narrowly passed the funding legislation on September 19, with Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) breaking ranks to vote with Republicans.
A significant number of congressional Republicans have signed on to legislation that would extend the enhanced health insurance subsidies.
Open enrollment for health care insurance plans starts this Saturday, meaning the continued impasse could affect millions who purchase policies through the Obamacare exchanges.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who voted against the stopgap bill in the House, pushed party leaders this week to embrace a deal with the GOP.
“I think it’s a very fair deal,” Gottheimer said. “Open the government and let’s just vote on extending these premiums for a year or more.”
https://nypost.com/2025/10/31/us-news/dems-cynically-keep-government-shut-down-past-election-day-as-snap-benefits-could-lapse-for-millions-of-poor-americans/