As the government shutdown entered its fourth week, rare bipartisanship emerged in the Senate. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared that Democrats would support Republican Sen. Josh Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, ensuring continued food assistance for millions of Americans. The Department of Agriculture had warned that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could run out within days, leaving low-income families without vital support. With ten Republican co-sponsors, Hawley’s bill gained traction across party lines as the political standoff deepened.

Meanwhile, Democrats led by Sen. Ben Ray Luján countered with their own measure to also fund the WIC program for women and infants, underscoring how essential nutrition aid had become in the budget crisis. While Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of blocking previous funding efforts, private negotiations quietly intensified. Both parties now face mounting pressure to end the impasse before November benefits — totaling $9.2 billion — are jeopardized.