Shutdown Day 27: Food aid benefits at risk of being cut off Nov. 1st

SNAP Benefits & Government Shutdown - The Trump administration believes it cannot legally use a contingency fund of approximately $5 billion to backfill SNAP benefits, which cost about $9 billion per month [1] - One in five New Mexicans, almost half a million people (21% of the state), rely on SNAP benefits [1] - Food banks are not equipped to sustainably fill the gap left by the potential lapse in SNAP funding [1] - Multiple government programs are under threat due to the shutdown, including WIC and essential air services, affecting both red and blue states [6] Political Standoff - Both Democratic and Republican parties feel supported by their base voters in their current stances, leading to a lack of urgency to compromise [2][3][4] - The White House wants to keep pressure on Democrats to open the entire government, not just fill money into the SNAP account [1] - House Republicans, including Mike Johnson, believe the Affordable Care Act tax credits that Democrats are championing are bankrupting the country and are fundamentally flawed [11][12] - It may require increasing pain and political pressure to push both sides to end the stalemate [7][9]