The US government shutdown, now in its fifth week, has taken a sharp turn as President Donald Trump moves to cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), commonly known as food stamps. The administration announced last Friday that it would not release a $5bn contingency fund to continue Snap benefits beyond 1 November, affecting 42 million Americans, including low-wage workers, seniors, and veterans. Critics argue this is a deliberate tactic to pressure Democrats into ending the shutdown on Trump's terms.
Nutrition experts and state officials have condemned the move. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused Trump of prioritising political points over working families, noting that the administration found money for federal agents but not for food assistance. Sharon Parrott of the Centre on Budget and Policy Priorities called the decision 'quite something' given the billions available. Two dozen states have filed a lawsuit, claiming the cutoff violates federal law, as the contingency fund is not legally restricted to natural disasters.
Trump has also threatened to withhold backpay for 670,000 furloughed federal workers, reversing a previous commitment under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act. Senator Patty Murray of Oregon labelled this 'another baseless attempt to scare and intimidate workers', asserting that backpay is legally guaranteed. The shutdown began on 1 October after Democrats blocked funding unless Trump extended Obamacare subsidies, a demand he has refused.
