Live

Government shutdown updates: Judge lays out path for SNAP benefits

The administration could use $5 billion in emergency funds and tariff revenue.

Last Updated: November 2, 2025, 3:21 PM EST

Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at a stalemate on finding a government funding solution to end what is now the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The Senate on Thursday adjourned until Monday afternoon, which will mark the 34th day of the government shutdown. 

Meanwhile, a federal judge has laid out a path for the administration to fund SNAP benefits, which ran out on Saturday, saying the administration could tap more than $5 billion in emergency funds, as well as a much larger pot of tariff revenue collected by the Agriculture Department to fund the program.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 31, 2025, 10:08 AM EDT

Johnson blames Democrats for end of SNAP benefits

House Speaker Mike Johnson again on Friday laid the blame of the pending end to SNAP benefit funding on Democrats and contended that the Trump "administration has done all it can."

"The Democrats continue with their political games in Washington," he said, adding that the Senate Democrats have "abandoned their post."

Johnson has not called the House back into session in over a month.

He reiterated that the Democratic senators needed to come and pass the clean CR bill.

Oct 30, 2025, 11:21 PM EDT

Trump calls for eliminating filibuster to end shutdown

President Donald Trump, in a lengthy social media post on Thursday night, called on Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to pass the Republican funding bill and reopen the government.

"It is now time for the Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD,' and go for what is called the Nuclear Option -- Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!" Trump posted.

Trump said ending the filibuster was necessary because "DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD "CRAZY."

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after taking off from Busan, South Korea, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Oct. 30, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The president said that while in Asia this week the question he kept getting "was how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America, and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it?"

"The fact is, in flying back, I thought a great deal about that question, WHY?" he added.

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader John Thune -- who Trump praised in his post -- rejected the idea of eliminating the filibuster.

Some Democrats have called for ending the filibuster themselves in the past but faced headwinds from former centrist members -- which Trump pointed to in his post. Trump argued if Republicans don't end it themselves, Democrats will when they return to the majority.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Oct 30, 2025, 5:04 PM EDT

'In this fight until we win': Jeffries

Jeffries continued to hold the Democratic line during the shutdown Thursday, insisting that their demands have not changed throughout the impasse.

"Over the last 30 days, we've said the same thing over and over and over again: We'll sit down with Republicans anytime, anyplace, anywhere, to reopen the government and enact a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people," he said at a news conference.

Jeffries added that Democrats are "in this fight until we win this fight."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a news conference on the 30th day of a government shutdown on Capitol Hill, Oct. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP

As lawmakers are set to receive their paychecks on Nov. 1, Jeffries has refused to reveal whether he will accept his congressional salary during the shutdown.

He told ABC News that each Democrat will have to make an individual decision but he intends to make his plans clear to his constituents in Brooklyn on or before Saturday.
-ABC News' John Parkinson

Oct 30, 2025, 4:45 PM EDT

Senate adjourns until Monday with SNAP funding to lapse over the weekend

The Senate is now adjourned until Monday afternoon, which will mark the 34th day of the government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune appeared exasperated in his calls for the Democrats to turn the lights back on in Washington, D.C.

"I hope … the pressure starts to intensify, and the consequences of keeping the government shut down become even more real for everybody that they will express, hopefully new interest in trying to come up with a path forward," Thune said.

Starting Nov. 1, SNAP benefits won't go out and open enrollment begins for Affordable Care Act plans with premiums expected to rise.

California National Guard sort produce at the Los Angeles Food Bank Oct. 29, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Daniel Cole/Reuters

Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen objected to Thursday's adjournment on the Senate floor. The effort was ultimately overridden by Republicans in the upper chamber.

"The dysfunction in this place is going to have real consequences when people lose their health care coverage, and I'm done. I am just done. We need to figure this out, work in a bipartisan way, not next week, but right now," Rosen said.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, walking away from the cameras, was asked if she believes the Senate should be leaving now when SNAP benefits are due to expire.

"No," she said. "We'd love for the Democrats to open the government."

Sponsored Content by Taboola