Overview
- President Trump hosted a Great Gatsby–themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago with champagne service and showgirls, and reporters were told to leave as visuals later circulated from guests.
- Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts directed the administration to use roughly $5–$5.25 billion in USDA contingency funds to keep food assistance flowing during the shutdown.
- Officials signaled they would not fully cover November benefits, with the White House saying Tuesday it will send partial SNAP payments despite an estimated need of about $8 billion.
- Trump posted on Truth Social that he does not want Americans to go hungry and would provide funding if directed by the courts, as DOJ raised legal and implementation questions.
- Late-night hosts and elected officials condemned the party’s optics while Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed criticism as he defended the event as a yearly tradition, and advocates warned of delays for tens of millions of recipients.