As the government shutdown stretched into its fourth week, an unexpected moment of bipartisanship emerged in the Senate. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats would back Republican Sen. Josh Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025, a bill designed to keep food assistance flowing to millions of Americans. The Department of Agriculture had warned that SNAP funding could run out within days, threatening low-income families who rely on the program. Hawley’s bill, already supported by ten Republicans, quickly gained momentum as the standoff dragged on.

Democrats, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luján, introduced a parallel measure to extend funding for the WIC program, highlighting how nutrition aid had become a central issue in the budget crisis. With November’s $9.2 billion in benefits at risk, both parties faced growing pressure to reach a broader deal before assistance abruptly stopped.