The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has entered a record-breaking stretch, leaving millions of Americans struggling as key social programs face severe funding cuts.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), only half of the usual food aid payments will be issued to 42 million low-income Americans this month. Officials disclosed in a federal court filing in Rhode Island that they would not compensate the shortfall with other funding sources, confirming that “50 percent of eligible households’ current allotments” will be disbursed.
Two federal courts — in Rhode Island and Massachusetts — had ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to use a $4.65 billion emergency fund to partially cover the estimated $9 billion needed for November’s food stamp payments. However, that decision only delays deeper financial strain on vulnerable families.
The shutdown, now approaching its 36th day, is on track to become the longest in U.S. history. It stems from a political standoff between Democrats and Republicans over funding for health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare. Democrats insist on reopening negotiations to extend the subsidies, while the White House says it will not discuss the issue until the government resumes full operations.
As the crisis drags on, the effects are being felt across the nation. Programs such as WIC — which supports pregnant women, new mothers, and infants — and Head Start, serving more than 65,000 children, are on the verge of shutting down.
Food insecurity has surged, with one in eight Americans now uncertain of how to afford groceries after SNAP funding lapsed on Saturday.
In response, President Trump stated via Truth Social that he had directed government lawyers to “clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.” But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned that bureaucratic hurdles could delay payments.
“There’s a process that has to be followed,” Bessent said on CNN. “President Trump wants to make sure people get their food benefits, but it will take time.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties are urging the president to broker a deal to end the impasse and prevent further hardship for millions of American families.
