San Francisco, Lawmakers Push Funding to Sustain SNAP Amid Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown threatens to halt the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) starting November 1, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have introduced competing bills to sustain these benefits. Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luján, proposed legislation requiring the Trump administration to use contingency funds to maintain payments, while a bipartisan Republican bill led by Sen. Josh Hawley also aims to allocate funds for SNAP during the shutdown and has garnered some Democratic support. In response to the impending lapse, the city of San Francisco announced a public-private partnership, including city funds and private donations, to provide SNAP recipients with prepaid cards to access food benefits through November. Advocates highlight the economic ripple effect of SNAP, with Rep. Sara Jacobs emphasizing that every dollar spent generates about $1.50 in economic activity, underscoring the program's broader economic importance beyond food security. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has blocked the fast-tracking of the Democrats' bill, prolonging uncertainty for millions of low-income Americans who rely on these programs. Senate Democratic leaders have criticized the Trump administration and Republican opposition for the unprecedented decision to allow a lapse in SNAP benefits during the shutdown, framing it as an avoidable hardship for vulnerable families.