As the government shutdown entered its fourth week, a rare sign of unity appeared in the Senate. Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer, announced their support for Republican Senator Josh Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, a bill aimed at ensuring that millions of Americans continue receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits despite the funding freeze.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had warned that money for the program could run out within days, potentially leaving more than 40 million low-income Americans without vital food assistance. Hawley’s bill, backed by ten Republican co-sponsors, quickly gained bipartisan momentum as the political standoff deepened. “No family should go hungry because of Washington’s gridlock,” Schumer said, emphasizing that the bill’s focus on nutrition aid transcends party lines.
At the same time, Senate Democrats led by Ben Ray Luján introduced a companion measure to protect both SNAP and the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children), underscoring the growing urgency to safeguard food programs that serve vulnerable families. However, not all lawmakers were on board. Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of blocking broader funding proposals, insisting that reopening the entire government was the only lasting solution.
Behind the scenes, quiet negotiations continued as pressure mounted from both the public and advocacy groups. With November’s $9.2 billion in benefits at risk, both parties faced an intensifying demand to find common ground. While the shutdown exposed deep divisions in Washington, the unexpected bipartisan push to save SNAP signaled that—at least on hunger relief—Congress might finally agree on something essential.