Trump to partly fund SNAP as shutdown talks progress

The Trump administration said Monday it will drain a food aid contingency fund to pay for about 50% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November, complying with orders from two federal courts. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Monday night blocked a Democratic measure to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fully fund SNAP, calling it a “political stunt” from a party refusing to fully fund the government. But yesterday also saw the “first glimmers toward ending” the “near-record long federal government shutdown,” Reuters said.

Senators from both parties “are newly optimistic” that the shutdown “might soon come to an end,” The Washington Post said. Democrats hope Democratic victories in key gubernatorial elections Tuesday “could make Republicans question their shutdown strategy” and convince them to “negotiate an end” to the impasse, while Republicans suggest their Democratic colleagues “will be more willing to compromise once the election is over” and they won’t worry about disappointing their voters.

“I’m optimistic” that “we’re getting close to an off-ramp,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters yesterday. “I sense that, too,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “People are tired of this shutdown,” though “we’re still stuck with this premise of what we’re going to do about health care costs.” Things “just feel better this week,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said, but “it could all fall apart again.”