Trump expands drug boat attacks in Pacific as ongoing campaign kills at least 34

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the shutdown is now “putting lives at risk,” citing potential delays in SNAP benefits.

“Trump’s failure to open up the federal government is now putting people’s lives at risk and making basic needs like food more expensive — just as the holidays approach. It’s long past time for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, stand up to Trump, and get to work for the American people,” she said in a statement Monday.

“The state is deploying its military to quickly assist families whose federal food benefits have been halted due to Donald Trump’s government shutdown,” he said Thursday.

The delay could affect up to 5.5 million Californians. Nationally, 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits.

President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom project is underway, with demolition on the East Wing of the White House set to begin this week.

Some Democratic lawmakers said the privately funded ballroom is coming together at the same time as millions of Americans fear losing their food benefits because of the shutdown.

Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth said, “Nearly 2 million Illinoisans will see their SNAP benefits expire on November 1 – but Trump has no problem spending money to build his own ballroom, bail out Argentina and buy Kristi Noem two private jets.” wrote This week on X.

Senator Dick Durbin wrote: After cutting SNAP for 340,000 Illinoisans in “big, beautiful bill”, Trump USDA says they will close SNAP entirely due to government shutdown on November 1. This White House has money for a new ballroom, but not for regular people struggling to afford groceries.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the country’s largest nutrition assistance initiative.

Americans are eligible for SNAP benefits if their income falls at or below the poverty line; This figure varies by state USDA,

Last year, SNAP served an average of 41.7 million participants per month, according to the USDA. This was about 12 percent of American households.

Federal SNAP spending in 2024 totaled $99.8 billion.

Some states have warned they may not be able to pay out SNAP benefits in November as the shutdown reaches its third week.

Due to the ongoing shutdown, “SNAP customers will not have access to any new food benefits starting on November 1, 2025, unless the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans reopen the government,” according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. Said In a statement last week.

The state administers $350 million in SNAP benefits each month, but it relies on federal funding to make sure every family gets the help they need. The funding shortfall could affect nearly 2 million Illinoisans.

“You’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families – hungry families – who will not have access to these programs because of this shutdown,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. told reporters Week.

Governors have warned that about 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance could lose access in November.

The New York governor said, “This is a cruel, senseless and politically motivated punishment imposed by the Trump administration, which he has the power to avoid.” kathy Hochul said in a statement last week.

“Lives depend on it, and Washington Republicans need to stop playing games. Release this federal funding now and let states get this money to families to make sure they don’t go hungry!”

Here’s how many recipients are expected to be affected in some states:

• new york:3 million
• Illinois: 1.9 million
• pennsylvania: 2 million
• oklahola: 684,600
• California:5.5 million

Millions of the poorest Americans could lose access to food stamps next month with no clear end in sight to the government shutdown.

If Congress does not resolve its budget impasse, the roughly 42 million low-income Americans who receive SNAP benefits are likely to see their aid disrupted next month.

The USDA said in a letter to states last week that the federal government will have “insufficient funds” for November.

As a result, more than a dozen states have issued warnings to residents that they may be delayed in receiving food assistance, may have their assistance reduced, or may not receive assistance at all.

isabel keen That’s the whole story.

A policy group has warned that nearly 1 in 8 people in the country could soon be without food aid if the shutdown continues — but the Trump administration has blamed Democrats for the appropriations lapse.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that about 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, a group that includes about 16 million children, 8 million older adults and 4 million people with disabilities.

“The administration must act quickly to ensure that families receive food assistance benefits in early November,” the center wrote Monday. release,

The center urged the USDA to use contingency funds to provide partial benefits to eligible households for November.

Acting SNAP head Ronald Ward warned in an October 10 letter: “If the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals nationwide.”

However, the Trump administration has so far blamed Democrats for the shutdown.

Trump’s Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said, “Because of the Democrat shutdown, there is not enough money to provide SNAP for 40 million Americans on November 1. Democrats are putting their political agenda ahead of free healthcare for illegal aliens and food security for American families.” wrote On X.

A banner at the top of SNAP’s website also reads: “Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”

Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley has been speaking on the Senate floor for more than 16 hours, warning that President Donald Trump’s administration is a “grave threat to democracy.”

He said, “I come to the Senate tonight to sound the alarm. We are in the most dangerous moment, the greatest threat to our republic since the Civil War. President Trump is destroying our Constitution.”

As he speaks, he stands next to a large green poster that reads: “Ring the alarm: Authoritarianism is here now!”

The president said he will meet with top Democratic lawmakers — but with a big challenge.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday that he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “reached out to the President today and urged him to sit down and have a conversation with us to solve the health care crisis, to address it, and to end the government shutdown.”

Schumer said he would meet with Trump “any time, any place” before the president leaves for a trip to Asia at the end of the week.

In response, Trump later told reporters: “I would like to meet with both of them, but I have one little caveat, I will only meet if they let the country open up.”

Days after millions of people joined across the country in “No Kings” protests against Trump’s “totalitarianism,” Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley warned of the president’s “totalitarian takeover” in a marathon speech.

“This is an exceptionally dangerous moment,” Merkley said as part of his more than 16-hour Senate speech.

The Democrat added, “An authoritarian president is moving to attack free speech, attack the free press, weaponize the Justice Department and use it against people who disagree with him, and then ask for court permission to send troops into our cities to attack people who are peacefully protesting.”

He also noted Saturday’s demonstrations: “Over the weekend, more than 7 million Americans joined No Kings protests across the country – a clear message that we refuse to let Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover go unchecked.”