Democrats Keep Govt. Closed To Give Party Boost Ahead Of Elections
Millions of Americans faced the prospect of going hungry this weekend as Senate Democrats continued to block government funding, refusing 13 separate attempts in the last six weeks to pass a bill that would restore critical food assistance programs — all while key elections loom in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.
“They’re setting everything up for next week,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told Politico on Friday.
“If they do it before Tuesday, then their base may not show up because it looks like they caved … That’s why they’re setting everything up to open next week. We’ll be open next Wednesday, or Wednesday night, or Thursday,” he said, suggesting Democrats are intentionally prolonging the crisis to maintain turnout.
The shutdown has blocked Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for nearly 42 million low-income Americans — a situation Republican leaders say is entirely of Democrats’ making, as they continue to demand an extension of soon-to-expire ObamaCare subsidies as a condition for reopening the government.
“Democrats have instigated a disgusting dereliction of duty unlike anything I have seen in all my years doing this work,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins during a press conference flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Rollins condemned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) as the architect of the blockade.
“He is going out of his way to please the likes of Zohran Mamdani, a man who is polarizing America with his socialist rhetoric and anti-American principles,” she said.
“The very essence of government responsibility is to the citizens who live and work here, to protect their interests first — unless you are a Democrat in the United States Senate.”
The standoff escalated further on Friday after two Obama-appointed federal judges intervened, ordering the Trump administration to redirect emergency contingency funds to temporarily restore SNAP benefits.
In Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John McConnell directed the government to move $6 billion in restricted emergency funds into the program, despite USDA guidance that the funds are reserved for natural disasters.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a parallel ruling, arguing that benefits cannot be allowed to lapse mid-shutdown.
“Defendants erred in concluding that USDA is statutorily prohibited from using the contingency reserve to fund SNAP benefits during the pendency of the lapse in appropriations,” Talwani wrote.
The Justice Department is expected to appeal, though no filing had been made as of Friday evening.
Democrats celebrated the rulings, with a congressional aide telling The Post, “The court order puts more heat on the GOP to negotiate.”
President Donald J. Trump, working to restore SNAP access as quickly as legally possible, said he had directed administration lawyers to “ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
“It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.”
Meanwhile, Democrats privately acknowledged no immediate breakthrough is expected.
“There has been some outreach by GOP members from the House and Senate in states that have now gotten health insurance premium increases, but it hasn’t yet meant GOP leaders are willing to listen,” a Democratic staffer admitted. “The weekend seems status quo but talks continue.”
House Republicans have proposed stand-alone bills to fund the military and restore food benefits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has offered a bipartisan path to extend ObamaCare subsidies — but only after Democrats vote to reopen the government.
The House already passed the continuing resolution on September 19, with Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) breaking ranks to join Republicans.
With ObamaCare open enrollment now underway, the shutdown threatens to delay payments and disrupt coverage nationwide — a crisis Republicans say Democrats are willing to prolong for political leverage.