Tuesday marks day 35 of the government shutdown, tied for the longest in U.S. history. On Monday, President Trump said his administration would partially fund SNAP after a pair of judges’ rulings required it to keep the program running.
But on Tuesday, the President took to Truth Social, threatening not to release any money for SNAP until the government reopens.
One of the court rulings requiring the Trump administration to use emergency funds to pay for SNAP benefits came in response to a lawsuit filed by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and other Democratic Attorneys General, accusing the Department of Agriculture of breaking the law by withholding funds.
On Tuesday, Jackson told ABC11 that all North Carolinians should try and support food pantries however they can, while the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina said they’re here to help.
As the shutdown approaches record length, political experts say the enormous impact of SNAP in red and blue areas has made it a tricky issue for the White House.
“Now I think they may feel like we’re on a little safer ground in negotiations and say, well, it’s the Democrats fault because we’ve used the contingency fund, we’ve done what we can,” said Duke Professor Mac McCorkle, after the announcement Monday that the White House would use emergency funds.
McCorkle said Tuesday’s elections could have an impact on the shutdown as well. If Democrats were to win prominent races, he believes it could move Republicans to agree to negotiate issues like healthcare subsidies in exchange for a “yes” vote to reopen the government from Democrats on the fence.
“The eight or so moderates who may come on over and help pass the clean resolution, they might get enough of an assurance,” he said.
Read the full article on ABC11
November 4, 2025