By Friday, November 7, 2025, the U.S. Senate was staring down a clock that wouldn’t wait — a government shutdown now in its eighth day had pushed 42 million Americans to the edge of hunger, and lawmakers had just hours to strike a deal or watch federal services collapse. The crisis wasn’t about grand ideology anymore. It was about whether a child in Detroit, a veteran in rural Mississippi, or a single mother in Puerto Rico would get food on the table next week. The answer, for now, hung on whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune could broker a deal with Democrats before midnight — or if the Trump administration would let the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) remain slashed to half its required funding.
Why SNAP Is the Flashpoint
It started quietly. On October 31, 2025, the temporary funding measure that kept the government running expired. Congress had spent months bickering over spending priorities, but SNAP became the sticking point. Republicans, led by Senator John Baraso of Wyoming, blocked a Democratic bill on November 3 demanding full funding. Their argument? Budget discipline. Their effect? A court order on November 4 forced the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release only 50% of the benefits owed — $2.3 billion instead of $4.6 billion — using a contingency fund meant for emergencies, not systemic neglect. "It shouldn’t take a court order to get the president to stop starving families," said Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) on Democracy Now! that same day. "This isn’t policy. It’s punishment." By November 4, the Department of Agriculture confirmed: 42 million people — nearly one in eight Americans — would receive half their monthly food stamps. That’s 12.6 million households. Some families got $100 instead of $200. Others got $50 instead of $100. For many, that meant skipping meals, choosing between medicine and milk, or relying on food banks already stretched thin.The Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, called it "a relentless attack on working people." And she wasn’t exaggerating. The national unemployment rate had hit 12.6% — the highest since records began in 1948. Wages hadn’t kept pace with inflation. Food prices? Still climbing after Trump’s earlier tariffs on Brazilian coffee, beef, and cocoa. Even after he reversed those tariffs on November 21, the damage was done. Grocery shelves were bare in places like Memphis and Milwaukee. Pantries in Chicago reported a 60% surge in demand since October 31. In rural Alabama, 72-year-old Evelyn Carter, a retired school aide, told a local reporter: "I used to get $187 a month. Now it’s $93. I skip breakfast so my grandkids can eat lunch. That’s the new normal." The shutdown wasn’t just about food. By November 7, nearly 800,000 federal workers were on edge — some already furloughed, others working without pay. Passport offices closed. National parks shut gates. FAA air traffic controllers worked unpaid. The Coast Guard, under pressure after initially removing swastikas and nooses from its hate symbol list, reversed course on November 6 after backlash — a rare moment of bipartisan agreement in an otherwise fractured Congress.
Political Gridlock and the Global Ripple
Behind the scenes, Senate negotiations were tense. Thune, a seasoned dealmaker from South Dakota, was working with Democratic leaders like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) to draft a compromise. But hardliners on both sides resisted. Some Republicans wanted to link SNAP funding to immigration enforcement. Democrats refused to negotiate on food security. Meanwhile, international eyes were watching. European governments criticized the U.S. for what they called "economic cruelty," especially after reports surfaced that the Trump administration was considering using frozen Russian assets to offset domestic spending — a move Brussels condemned as "a capitulation to Moscow." The Justice Department also sued California on November 20 over its tuition policy for undocumented students, further inflaming tensions around federal overreach. The irony? The shutdown began over a budget dispute that could’ve been solved with a simple two-week extension. Instead, political theater turned into a humanitarian emergency.What Happens If They Fail?
If no deal passed by midnight on November 7, the consequences were immediate and brutal:- 800,000 federal employees furloughed without pay
- Passport processing halted — thousands stranded abroad
- National parks closed, tourism revenue evaporating
- Food safety inspections paused in 12 states
- VA benefits delayed for 9 million veterans
- Medicare claims processing slowed, leaving hospitals unpaid
History Won’t Remember the Votes — It Will Remember the Hunger
This isn’t the first government shutdown. But it’s the first where food aid was weaponized. In 2013, 800,000 workers were furloughed. In 2018–19, it lasted 35 days. But never before had Congress let half the nation’s food stamps disappear — not even during the Great Recession. The Senate had one night. One chance. To choose between politics and people.Frequently Asked Questions
How many Americans are affected by the SNAP cuts?
Exactly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, and the partial funding cut means each household receives only half their approved benefit. That’s equivalent to 12.6 million families losing an average of $150 per month in food assistance. In states like California, Texas, and Florida, the impact is especially severe due to high poverty rates and cost of living.
Why did the court order only half the funding?
The court didn’t order half — it ordered the Department of Agriculture to act. The administration had refused to release full funds despite legal obligations. The court gave them a choice: pay in full or use the contingency fund. They chose the latter, limiting payments to 50% — a legal loophole that still left millions short. Advocacy groups are now suing for full restitution.
What’s the connection between tariffs and SNAP?
Trump’s earlier 40% tariffs on Brazilian agricultural exports — coffee, beef, cocoa, and fruit — spiked U.S. grocery prices by 11% in September 2025. Even after reversing the tariffs on November 21, food costs didn’t drop overnight. SNAP benefits, frozen at pre-tariff levels, now buy less. For a family of four, that’s an extra $30–$40 in food costs per month they can’t afford.
Why did Senator Baraso block the bill?
Baraso, a fiscal conservative, argued that SNAP spending was unsustainable and should be tied to work requirements. He claimed the program had expanded too far since 2020. But critics note that unemployment is at a record 12.6%, making work requirements unrealistic. His blockade was the final barrier to a bipartisan deal that had already passed the House.
Could this shutdown be extended past November 7?
Technically, yes — but only if Congress passes a new continuing resolution. The Senate leadership has said they won’t extend the shutdown unless SNAP funding is restored. Without a deal, federal agencies will begin shutting down operations in waves, starting with non-essential services. Essential workers like TSA agents and air traffic controllers will keep working — but without pay.
What’s next for SNAP if the shutdown ends?
If a deal is reached, SNAP benefits will be restored to 100% — but only retroactively if Congress includes a reimbursement clause. So far, no bill includes it. That means millions who went without food for weeks may never get that money back. Advocacy groups are preparing class-action lawsuits to recover lost benefits, but legal precedent is unclear.