Government Shutdown Extends Fifth Week with Key Food Aid at Risk for 42 Million Americans

As the federal government shutdown extends into its fifth week, Senate Republicans and Democrats are adjusting their strategies amid mounting pressure to resolve the crisis. Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have rejected piecemeal bills proposed by Democrats to fund specific programs like SNAP and federal workers' pay, emphasizing instead the need to fully reopen the government. Democrats, meanwhile, have introduced standalone bills aimed at mitigating the shutdown's impact on vulnerable populations but face consistent opposition from Republicans. The Trump administration has found a workaround to continue paying active-duty military personnel, reducing the urgency for targeted legislation on that front. Calls for bipartisan solutions, including a proposed bipartisan commission by Senator Rand Paul and suggestions for the Senate to remain in session on weekends, highlight the growing frustration with stalled negotiations. However, Republicans remain focused on pressuring Democrats to join them in reopening the government as the primary path forward to end the shutdown's detrimental effects.