Trump calls for court clarification on SNAP funding
On the 32nd day of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Donald Trump has simultaneously directed government lawyers to seek immediate judicial guidance on how to legally fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, while again urging Senate Republicans to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and abolish the filibuster rule so legislation can pass with a simple majority.
Legal fight over food aid
Trump stated that his administration’s lawyers believe the executive branch lacks the “legal authority” to pay SNAP benefits using available funds, noting the confusion after two federal judges issued conflicting rulings.
“Our government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with the funds we have available, and now two courts have issued conflicting opinions,” Trump wrote on his social platform. “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island rejected the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) claim that it could not tap a contingency fund of about USD 5.3 billion to keep SNAP running. The program costs roughly USD 8-9 billion per month, meaning the reserve could only partially cover November’s payments. Officials warned millions of beneficiaries still face delays, as state agencies will need time to process any court-approved funding.
Missed* *p* *aychecks
As the shutdown stretches into its second month, major ripple-effects are spiking across air travel infrastructure. Thousands of federal workers deemed essential - including air traffic controllers and TSA officers are working without pay.
• Over 11,000 air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck, and many now face the financial strain of working mandatory overtime without compensation.
• At many of the 30 busiest airports, staffing shortages are acute - in New York the absence rate among controllers reached 80%. Flight delays and cancellations are mounting as a result.
• Major airlines like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have publicly implored Congress to pass a funding bill to end the shutdown, citing the risk to national air safety and operational continuity.
With the shutdown now in Day 32, the disruptions hit both service reliability and worker morale and add pressure to the broader political stalemate.
The Filibuster push amid crisis
Separately, Trump renewed his demand that Senate Republicans use the “nuclear option” to eliminate the filibuster:
“It is now time for 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!”
He argued that Democrats would not hesitate to scrap the rule if in power, citing their prior attempts to modify it for voting-rights and abortion legislation. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning they would need near-unanimous support within the GOP to change Senate rules a prospect that remains uncertain.
Political & priority questions
The juxtaposition is striking: in a country with an economy approaching USD 30 trillion, the government says it lacks “legal authority” to fund billions of dollars in food assistance while federal employees continue working without pay and airlines step in to feed air-traffic controllers. Critics say the issue is less about the money and more about political will and legislative gridlock.
While Trump emphasizes urgency and leadership, many Senate Republicans remain wary of ending the filibuster, warning of long-term consequences if the balance of power shifts. The result: a crisis of governance in which essential services, social-safety-net programs and travel infrastructure are all under strain.