WASHINGTON D.C, Nov 4, 2025 – In a fiery White House press briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized Democrats for prolonging a government shutdown now entering its 35th day, arguing that their refusal to pass funding legislation is directly jeopardizing full food assistance payments for millions of low-income Americans.
“The best way to get the full amount of SNAP benefits to those beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government,” Leavitt said, emphasizing that the administration is tapping into emergency contingency funds—intended for “catastrophes or war”—to provide partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments this month. The remarks, delivered at the White House briefing room podium, were quickly shared in a video clip by the official @WhiteHouse account on X, garnering over 54,000 views within hours.
The briefing comes amid escalating tensions over the partial federal shutdown, which began in early October after Senate Democrats repeatedly blocked short-term funding bills passed by the Republican-controlled House. Despite the GOP’s 53-47 Senate majority, Democrats have leveraged the filibuster to stall measures, including a stopgap extension that would reopen the government until November 21. The impasse has furloughed thousands of federal workers and halted non-essential services, but the standoff has drawn particular scrutiny for its impact on SNAP, the nation’s largest food aid program serving about 42 million people.
Leavitt explained that following a recent judge’s order on SNAP payments, the Department of Agriculture issued guidance to states on Tuesday detailing how to distribute prorated benefits using limited contingency reserves. “We’re digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies,” she noted, adding that President Donald J. Trump does not want to deplete these reserves for what she described as a politically motivated shutdown. However, she cautioned that processing the partial payments “is going to take some time,” leaving many recipients in limbo.
The comments follow a Truth Social post by Trump earlier in the day, where he linked the resumption of full SNAP funding to Democrats ending the shutdown, calling the program’s expansion under previous administrations a “disaster.” That statement sparked confusion and backlash, with critics accusing the president of politicizing essential aid. The White House later clarified that partial benefits would still be issued, averting a total cutoff but underscoring the administration’s frustration.
Republican leaders echoed Leavitt’s sentiments, with House Appropriations Committee members like Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), and others issuing a joint statement accusing Democrats of “denying full SNAP benefits to vulnerable Americans.” On the Democratic side, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has argued that the GOP’s funding proposals include unacceptable cuts to social programs and fail to address broader fiscal priorities.
Nonprofits and city officials have urged judicial intervention, with advocacy groups filing emergency motions to ensure uninterrupted aid flows. In Missouri alone, roughly 650,000 residents are at risk of missing November benefits entirely if the shutdown persists, according to state officials.
As bipartisan talks continue behind closed doors, sources indicate a potential off-ramp could emerge soon, though Senate Democrats rejected a GOP-led funding package for the 14th time on Tuesday. For now, the White House is urging swift action to avoid further strain on emergency funds and ensure families can put food on the table without delay.
