DEMOCRATS BACK GOP PLAN TO SAVE
Senate Bipartisan Effort Amid Shutdown
As the federal shutdown entered its fourth week,
a rare moment of unity emerged in the Senate to protect national food assistance programs.
Support for Hawley’s Bill
Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer,
backed Republican Senator Josh Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025,
which ensures continued operation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The USDA warned that funding “could be exhausted within mere days,”
threatening aid for millions of low-income Americans.
Cross-Party Momentum
Hawley’s bill gained ten Republican co-sponsors and broad bipartisan support.
Meanwhile, Democrats led by Ben Ray Luján introduced a companion measure to fund the WIC program for “women, infants, and children.”
Ongoing Tensions
Despite cooperation, tensions persisted.
Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of blocking earlier funding efforts,
even as private talks intensified.
Lawmakers face mounting pressure to act before November’s $9.2 billion SNAP benefits are due.
