PPC Update

November 3, 2025

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES WITH NO IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION IN SIGHT. The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 continued throughout the entirety of October, with no signs of a breakthrough. This shutdown is now the second longest funding lapse in US history and appears on track to break the 35-day record for the longest shutdown in history, which last took place during the first Trump administration.

Last Tuesday, the Senate failed for the 13th time to advance the House-passed continuing resolution, again falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass spending legislation. Congressional Democrats have largely stood united in their position of refusing to resume federal spending until Republicans agree to negotiate on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Republicans, meanwhile, have resisted tying the ACA subsidies to government funding. However, if the shutdown continues into November, its effects are expected to widen, and a number of political pressure points may soon force both parties to shift their current positions.

Pressure mounting on both parties continues to amplify as the shutdown passes the critical date of November 1, when several key developments are expected to heighten the urgency for action. The ACA’s open enrollment period began on Saturday, and many insurers have already set higher premiums for next year based on the assumption that the tax credits will expire as scheduled. This has the potential to put pressure on Republicans to negotiate on the ACA subsidies, as many of their constituents may face higher health care costs or be forced to drop coverage altogether.

Also on November 1, nearly 42 million Americans (including 16 million children) who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for critical food assistance were forced to go without benefits for the first time in the program’s 60-year history. There is a contingency fund at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that has been utilized in the past to cover benefits during emergencies. The Trump Administration, however, initially announced that it would not tap into contingency funding to provide benefits. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in response, seeking to compel release of SNAP funds from the contingency account, and a judge ruled as of Friday that the Administration must use the contingency fund to cover partial SNAP benefits for at least November. On Monday, the Administration agreed to release enough funds from the contingency account to provide partial SNAP payments for November. While this outcome should provide current SNAP beneficiaries partial relief from the funding lapse, millions of beneficiaries may still face delays in getting benefits due to the time it takes for funds to begin flowing from USDA. In an effort to pressure Democrats to advance the House-passed CR, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has ruled out putting forth a standalone bill to keep funding SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Furthermore, nearly 7 million families who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are at risk of losing their benefits as well if the shutdown continues. The administration sent states funds from tariff revenue to keep funding in place throughout October but several states have warned they would need additional funding to prevent disruptions. In response, the Administration made an additional $450 million in unused tariff revenue available to keep WIC funding afloat in November. The shutdown is also expected to hit Head Start programs across the country, many of which failed to receive their grant allotments by November 1, jeopardizing vital child care and other early education services for tens of thousands of families.

During the shutdown, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been directing federal agencies to implement reductions in force (RIFs) in programs lacking federal funding and those not aligned with the President’s policy priorities. Since the shutdown began, nearly 954 staff members at HHS received RIF notices, though OMB reportedly sought deeper cuts of up to 8,000 HHS staff; under the OMB plan, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would have been hit the hardest in this layoff plan, losing around 4,500 employees, roughly a quarter of its workforce. The plan was scuttled by top department officials who quickly intervened before the cuts could be made, and NIH staff were not ultimately included in the shutdown RIFs. Nevertheless, most NIH staff remain furloughed or working without pay, with all grantmaking, peer review, and basic research activities paused. Federal employee unions have since sued, challenging the administration’s legal authority to implement RIFs during the shutdown. A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from carrying out further RIFs until the government reopens.

 — Advocacy Opportunity: Tell Your Lawmakers to Protect SNAP Benefits: On Saturday, November 1, funds for the SNAP ran out in many states. Policymakers and the Administration must find a way forward to ensure that children and families across the country receive SNAP benefits. Tell your lawmakers why SNAP is vital to children in your state, and that benefits must be provided in November.

Here’s how to contact your members of Congress:

  • By Phone: You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative’s office and ask to speak with the health staff. You also can find your U.S. representative by going to House.gov and using the “Find Your Representative” feature at the top right of the page. To find your U.S. senators, visit Senate.gov and use the “Find Your Senators” feature at the top left of the page. The contact information for their Washington, DC, office is available on their websites.
  • By Email: You can also send emails to your members of Congress using the contact form on their websites, using the discussion guidance below as a template.

Template Email:

As an academic pediatrician, I urge you to take action to prevent any disruption in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that SNAP benefits will not be issued for the month of November and that they will not use the existing contingency fund to provide benefits, allowing an unprecedented lapse in the program.

SNAP is a children’s health program. It is the nation’s largest child nutrition program, reaching over 40 million people, including approximately 16 million children. Studies show that SNAP participation reduces food insecurity by as much as 30 percent and is even more effective among children and those facing very low food security.

The program also economically supports farmers, grocers, and other food retailers in our state and helps children access nutritious, filling meals that play an essential role in their growth and development. Strong nutrition is key to ensuring children can thrive.

Any delay or interruption in SNAP funding would be devastating to the health and well-being of my patients. I urge you to take action to ensure SNAP can continue operating. It is critical that children can continue to receive SNAP benefits.