Overview
- At a Republican leadership press conference, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told the roughly 42 million SNAP recipients that “your government is failing you” and said, “we have failed you.”
- Speaker Mike Johnson immediately redirected blame to Democrats, stepping to the lectern to say her “we” referred to Democrats as the shutdown continues.
- Rollins said the administration will not use the roughly $5 billion USDA contingency fund this weekend, arguing it is legally restricted and would not cover even half of November’s need.
- Democrats disputed that legal claim and cited a prior USDA shutdown plan, using Rollins’ admission to fault Republicans, who control the House, Senate, and White House.
- At least 24 states sued to compel use of reserves, with Judge Indira Talwani signaling possible court intervention, while states prepare food bank support ahead of a potential November 1 lapse.