US shutdown day 31: Trump vows to maintain food aid funding as 42 million at risk

US President Donald Trump signalled on Friday that his administration would seek a way to ensure low-income Americans continue to receive food aid, saying he does not want them to “go hungry”. His remarks came a day before some 42 million people risk losing their monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid a prolonged government shutdown.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump stated that government lawyers believe they lack legal authority to issue SNAP payments after funding expires on November 1. He added that he had directed them to “clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.” Earlier in the day, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the White House to use emergency funds to keep food stamps running temporarily, following a lawsuit by charities and advocacy groups.

However, the administration has maintained that it cannot legally access those funds, leaving uncertainty over whether SNAP beneficiaries will receive their weekend payments. The shutdown, which began on October 1 due to a partisan stalemate, has already left many federal workers unpaid and disrupted key public services. Entering its second month, it has increasingly strained households and the broader economy.

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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, when asked by CNN if the department would comply with the court order, said officials were “looking at all the options.” At the core of the congressional impasse is the lapse of insurance subsidies that help over 20 million Americans afford healthcare. Premiums are expected to rise sharply when new enrolments begin on Saturday. Democrats have refused to reopen the government without an agreement to extend those subsidies, while Republicans insist negotiations can only begin once the government is back in operation.

Food and air travel disruption deepen

The shutdown’s impact has spread beyond SNAP. The WIC programme, which provides food support for pregnant women, new mothers, and infants, faces imminent funding shortfalls, while “Head Start” programmes serving 65,000 young children could begin closing from Saturday.

Across the country, communities have rallied to support those affected. In Maryland, resident Kerry Chausmer said she was purchasing groceries for two struggling families, spending around $200 out of her own pocket. “You can judge a culture by how they help the people that need it most,” she told AFP, expressing frustration over the crisis.

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The administration confirmed it had secured funds to pay active-duty troops for the current payday but warned they might go unpaid by mid-November. Meanwhile, air travel has been severely disrupted, with staff shortages forcing restrictions at major New York airports, John F Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia.

At JFK, a ground stop lasted until mid-afternoon with delays of 60 to 100 minutes. Newark saw delays exceeding three hours, while some passengers at LaGuardia faced waits of up to five hours.

Although Trump has largely stayed out of direct negotiations, both parties hope he might eventually intervene to broker a deal on healthcare subsidies. He reiterated his readiness to meet Democrats but only once the government is reopened. “We’ll meet very quickly, but they have to open up the country,” he told reporters. “It’s their fault. Everything is their fault. It’s so easily solved.”

(WIth agency inputs.)