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Senator John Fetterman issued a new SNAP benefits warning to his fellow Democrats on Tuesday. In a video posted to X, Fetterman called the ongoing government shutdown a "failure" as he remains only one of two Democrats voting with Republicans on their continuing resolution bill that would re-open the government. The federal government had to shut down after the Senate adjourned with no funding resolution for the new fiscal year, starting on October 1, as both political parties continued to block the other's stopgap proposals. The shutdown means only essential services are allowed to continue operating until funding legislation is passed. It also means that SNAP, being a federal program funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is affected, as no funds have been transferred to states to provide the benefits starting from November 1. Fetterman posted, along with his video, "Shut our government down and America loses. 2 MILLION Pennsylvanians depend on SNAP to feed their families. For me, it’s hungry Americans over party. Paying our military over party. Paying Capitol Police and federal workers over party. I choose country over party." All but one Republican has continued to back the GOP's stopgap measure, joined by Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Fetterman, along with Maine independent Angus King who caucuses with them. It has failed to attract any additional bipartisan support since the shutdown began, , leaving the Republican bill five Democratic votes short of advancing. This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.
