The Washington Post editorial board issued a strong warning Wednesday, urging Congress to pass a full-year government funding bill to prevent millions of American families from losing access to essential benefits like food stamps. The editorial acknowledged that the ongoing shutdown—driven largely by Democrat demands—has not yet had a major impact on everyday life, but that is about to change.
According to the Post, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, is set to expire this weekend if Congress fails to act. That would potentially cut off support for approximately 42 million Americans, placing countless families at risk of going hungry. The editorial did not mince words: the government must remain open, and food for struggling families should not be held hostage to political bargaining.
The Post criticized the current shutdown as politically driven, pointing out that Democrats are refusing to pass a clean funding bill because it would weaken their leverage to secure extended subsidies for Obamacare. The paper drew a comparison to the 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days when Senator Ted Cruz sought to defund the Affordable Care Act. In this case, however, Democrats have dragged the shutdown on for over a month, endangering critical programs.
While some negotiations are ongoing, the editorial suggested that the upcoming Veterans Day recess could pressure lawmakers to strike a deal by next Friday. But if that fails, the consequences could be dire. The editorial concluded that if Democrats “persist, it could mean families start to go hungry.”
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have attempted to deflect blame by pointing fingers at President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. However, it is Democrat leadership holding up funding in an effort to secure partisan priorities. Disturbingly, some left-wing activists on platforms like TikTok have begun encouraging theft and civil unrest in anticipation of food stamp benefits drying up.
The current situation reveals a deeper truth: political gamesmanship in Washington is now threatening real hardship for working families. With 42 million Americans depending on SNAP to put food on the table, the urgency for action is clear.
