1:52Journalists pose inquiries as US Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican representing South Dakota, pivots to enter his office at the US Capitol in Washington, October 29, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
With vital food aid benefits on the cusp of expiring within days, Senate Majority Leader John Thune commented Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s suggestion that his administration might discover a path to support the program, while legislators appear understanding, yet remain divided.
The Agriculture Department declared earlier in the week that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotments, aiding around 42 million Americans with low incomes, will not be disbursed on Nov. 1 amidst the ongoing federal shutdown.
President Donald Trump addresses journalists on board Air Force One during his trip from Tokyo, Japan, to South Korea, Oct. 29, 2025.Mark Schiefelbein/AP
On Tuesday evening during his voyage to South Korea, Trump implied his administration could locate a way to assist funding SNAP, stating “we’re going to finalize it,” without sharing specifics on how.
Simultaneously, Trump attributed blame to Democrats for potentially placing Americans at risk of forfeiting essential federal food assistance this weekend.
"The Democrats instigated the predicament concerning food stamps … because all they require is to agree, and, you realize, if they agree, I'll convene with them,” Trump expressed.
Reporters ask questions as US Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican from South Dakota, turns to enter his office at the US Capitol in Washington, October 29, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
When questioned regarding Trump’s SNAP benefits remarks, Thune informed reporters on Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump on Tuesday but possessed no understanding of what his remarks indicated.
"I believe that what he's repeatedly conveying is, 'End the government shutdown and then we' — and that serves as the approach to finance SNAP," Thune articulated.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley is sponsoring a new proposal designed to finance SNAP during the shutdown. While a number of Republican senators endorse it, Thune has seemed hesitant to introduce it to the floor.
Upon being asked whether Trump’s statements signified backing for measures akin to Hawley’s that would support SNAP throughout the shutdown, Thune responded that he remained unsure whether Trump intended that.
"I believe the point that he and the remainder of the White House, including JD yesterday, have rather unambiguously communicated is, 'End the government shutdown and that functions as the means to fund SNAP and everything further.' If he possesses additional ideas, I will certainly be receptive to hearing them," Thune declared.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, October 29, 2025.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
On Wednesday morning, House Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned that the consequences of the government shutdown this week — encompassing a potential food predicament alongside deferred paychecks for federal employees and air traffic controllers — are becoming “considerably demanding for the American population,” placing the accountability squarely on Democrats.
"The Democrats are presently nearing a threshold from which they won’t have the ability to retreat,” Johnson conveyed at a press gathering in the Capitol. “There exist families and children reliant on SNAP allotments who will endure hunger at the conclusion of the week.”
While Democrats continue their conflict over health care subsidies as the Nov. 1 open registration date nears, Trump communicated Tuesday evening that he would cooperate with Democrats — on the condition that they vote to finance the government.
"I’d suggest, finalize ending the government shutdown, and we’ll resolve it," Trump advised reporters.
Democrats are endeavoring to balance their health care requests and discover solutions for SNAP, with Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján introducing legislation on Wednesday that would instruct the USDA to allocate accessible contingency funds to guarantee that benefits under SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continue during the shutdown.
Thune impeded the endeavor Wednesday afternoon — occasionally raising his voice while contending on the Senate floor that if Democrats desire to fund SNAP and alternate programs, they should vote to reopen the government to fund all programs.
"Permit me to emphasize, if I may, that we find ourselves 29 days into a Democrat shutdown. And the senator from New Mexico remains entirely correct. SNAP beneficiaries should not lack access to food. Individuals merit being compensated in this country," Thune expressed before elevating his voice to a complete shout. “And we've attempted to achieve that 13 times, and you voted no 13 times. This does not constitute a political maneuver. These are the actual lives of individuals that we are deliberating, and you all have merely understood 29 days in, 'Oh, there might exist consequences, that individuals are exhausting their finances.'"
Lujan’s proposal surfaced as 25 states initiated legal action on the matter in anticipation of the cessation of benefits at the start of November.
"The Trump administration possesses the authority and the funding to sustain SNAP operations throughout this shutdown," Lujan asserted. "Any neglect to accomplish that now rests unequivocally with the Trump administration and Republicans."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes Republicans for their healthcare policies, at a news conference on day 29 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 29, 2025.J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that both health care and SNAP necessitate attention jointly.
"Presently, we find ourselves staring down the barrel of two crises simultaneously. A health care crisis and a hunger crisis,” Schumer noted during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
"We do not intend to juxtapose health care and food. Gratitude. We maintain that both are attainable," he later exclaimed.
Schumer has continued to implore Republicans to “convene and engage in discussion with us” to reopen the government and tackle the health care crisis.
The U.S. Capitol rises above the U.S. Capitol Grounds, which are strewn with fall leaves, weeks into the continuing U.S. government shutdown, in Washington, October 27, 2025.Kylie Cooper/Reuters
Thune conveyed to journalists Wednesday morning that deliberations regarding a pathway to resolve the shutdown have “escalated notably” and that he feels “optimistic” that something productive will soon materialize.
"They’ve escalated considerably,” Thune stated concerning dialogues among ordinary members. “And ideally, that will serve as a harbinger of future events. But indeed, there exist abundant higher-level dialogues.”
Thune emphasized that dialogues are occurring among ordinary members and not within leadership.
"There exist numerous ordinary members who persist in, I believe, aspiring to pursue resolutions and address the matters they deem important, encompassing health care, which, as I just conveyed there, we willingly support, but it remains obviously conditional on them ending the government shutdown."
ABC News' Megan Mistry, Isabella Murray and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
