Government Shutdown Deal Advances to House Vote Amid SNAP Payment Freeze

As Congress moves towards a vote to end the government shutdown, which has lasted 42 days, the implications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are significant for millions of Americans. According to CBS News, the Senate passed a funding bill by a vote of 60 to 40, which now heads to the House for a vote expected as soon as Wednesday. This package would extend funding for most government agencies until January 30, while also including full-year funding for certain departments. If approved, it would mark the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Speaker Mike Johnson has called for members to return to Washington amid travel delays at airports due to the shutdown's impact on air traffic controllers and TSA workers, who have been working without pay.

The funding deal comes with a cloud of uncertainty over SNAP benefits, which serve approximately 42 million Americans. The Supreme Court recently extended a temporary order allowing the Trump administration to withhold full food stamp benefits while Congress negotiated the shutdown resolution. This decision keeps in place a pause on a lower court's ruling that mandated the full funding of SNAP benefits, with the order now set to expire late Thursday. As reported by the New York Times, this extension leaves many SNAP beneficiaries facing delays and disruptions in their food aid. The administration’s stance, as outlined in their Supreme Court filing, indicates that reopening government funding would resolve the issue.

The negotiations in Congress have not been without controversy. The House Rules Committee advanced the Senate-passed bill in a party-line vote, rejecting several Democratic amendments aimed at extending health insurance subsidies that are due to expire. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the GOP for their handling of the situation, accusing them of neglecting pressing health care issues during the shutdown. In a statement, he claimed that the provisions in the funding bill would have detrimental effects on health care access for many Americans.

There are also contentious provisions within the bill that allow senators to sue the federal government for up to $500,000 if their data is seized without notification. This aspect has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, with GOP Rep. Chip Roy expressing concerns about the self-serving nature of this provision. Despite these tensions, Roy indicated that he was unaware of significant opposition among House conservatives to the Senate bill, which bolsters confidence among Republicans for its passage.

The implications of the shutdown are particularly acute for military families, as highlighted by CBS News, coinciding with Veterans Day. Air traffic controllers missed their second paycheck on Tuesday, a situation that has led to rising absences among a workforce already under strain. The Transportation Secretary stated that air traffic controllers could receive 70% of their back pay within 48 hours of the government reopening, providing some relief to those affected.

In summary, as the House prepares to vote on the funding bill, the fate of SNAP benefits hangs in the balance, with millions of Americans awaiting the outcome of these crucial negotiations. The political maneuvering in Congress reflects deeper concerns about health care and federal funding priorities, setting the stage for ongoing debates as lawmakers work to finalize a resolution to the shutdown.