Government Shutdown Looms as SNAP Funding Faces Imminent Lapse, Trump Demandsโ Filibuster Reform
WASHINGTON – Asโ the U.S. government entered itsโ 30th โฃday of a partial shutdown on October 30, 2025, concerns mounted โover the impending expiration ofโ funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance โขProgram (SNAP), possibly โimpacting food assistance for millions of Americans. Simultaneously, former presidentโค Donald Trump escalated his demands for an end to the stalemate, calling for โthe immediate elimination ofโ the Senate filibuster.
The ongoing shutdown, triggeredโ by congressional disagreements overโ federal spending, is already disrupting numerous government services.The potentialโ lapse in โขSNAP funding adds a critical new dimension to the crisis, threateningโ access to food forโ low-income individuals andโ families.Theโ Senate filibuster, a procedural ruleโค requiring 60 votesโ to end debate on most โlegislation, has been โขa key โobstacle to resolving the budget โimpasse, with โRepublicans and Democrats locked in a struggle over spending priorities.Trump’s insistence on its abolition reflects a growing frustration with the โคlegislative process and a desireโ for a swift resolution.
“I can put money in a savings account and use that if โI absolutely have to, โbut otherwise there’s no more routine careโข for me,” โขshared one American affected by the shutdown, expressing concern over the โsuspension of preventative healthcare. “There’s no mammography, there’s no annual visits, โand I no that there โare a lot of things that โคrun in myโ family that you know could get me right about this age, all the women in my family have had โbreast cancer, so I know that’sโข on theโข table for me, butโฃ I feel pretty helpless at this moment.”
The shutdown began after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills to fund the government before the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2025. โคSeveral federal agencies have been forced to โsuspendโ non-essential โขoperations, furloughing employees and curtailing services. Negotiationsโข between the White House andโ congressional leaders have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.
Trump, speaking publicly,โฃ argued thatโ eliminating the filibuster “NOW” would allow the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to quickly pass legislation reflecting its priorities โand end the shutdown.โ Democrats have resisted โthis call, arguing that theโ filibuster is a vital โคtool forโ protecting minority rights and ensuring bipartisan compromise.
The lapse in SNAP funding, if it occurs, would โleave millionsโข vulnerable to food insecurity. Theโฃ program provides food โฃassistance to over 40 million Americans, with benefits averaging โaround $281 per month per household.โข The โฃtiming of the potential cutโ comes as manyโข families are already struggling with rising food prices and economic uncertainty.
Reporting by ABC News’ Justin Gomez.