Millions of Americans are set to feel the impacts of the government shutdown as federal food aid runs out Saturday and health care premiums are expected to rise significantly for those signing up this weekend.Quiet bipartisan talks are underway, but the shutdown is not expected to end before SNAP benefits expire, affecting more than 40 million people, and health care premiums are predicted to more than double on average. Senators left for the weekend Thursday, and the House has not been in session for six weeks. Democrats have repeatedly voted against reopening the government, demanding Republicans negotiate with them to extend expiring health care subsidies. Despite a bipartisan push, there was no movement this week on bills to continue funding federal food aid while the government remains shut down. "Democrats need to open this back up. It's one vote. Get this thing open. We have shown in good faith that we will do the appropriations process," Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said.Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said, "I will encounter people that have no SNAP benefits starting on Saturday, and I don't have an explanation for them. All I can say is I'm sorry." Meanwhile, the annual enrollment window for people choosing an individual health care plan through the Affordable Care Act opens tomorrow, with 24 million people having enrolled last year.Vice President JD Vance said, "Every single American, Democrat, or Republican or Independent should be able to agree on, open the government. Stop this craziness and open the government. It's causing way too many problems."Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, "Don't tell me we as the United States of America have to choose between feeding families and giving families health insurance. We can do both." President Trump confirmed that a friend of his donated $130 million to help pay the military today. The administration also plans to move around more than $5 billion from various accounts to cover the costs, including about $2.5 billion from the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
Millions of Americans are set to feel the impacts of the government shutdown as federal food aid runs out Saturday and health care premiums are expected to rise significantly for those signing up this weekend.
Quiet bipartisan talks are underway, but the shutdown is not expected to end before SNAP benefits expire, affecting more than 40 million people, and health care premiums are predicted to more than double on average.
Senators left for the weekend Thursday, and the House has not been in session for six weeks.
Democrats have repeatedly voted against reopening the government, demanding Republicans negotiate with them to extend expiring health care subsidies.
Despite a bipartisan push, there was no movement this week on bills to continue funding federal food aid while the government remains shut down.
"Democrats need to open this back up. It's one vote. Get this thing open. We have shown in good faith that we will do the appropriations process," Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said, "I will encounter people that have no SNAP benefits starting on Saturday, and I don't have an explanation for them. All I can say is I'm sorry."
Meanwhile, the annual enrollment window for people choosing an individual health care plan through the Affordable Care Act opens tomorrow, with 24 million people having enrolled last year.
Vice President JD Vance said, "Every single American, Democrat, or Republican or Independent should be able to agree on, open the government. Stop this craziness and open the government. It's causing way too many problems."
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, "Don't tell me we as the United States of America have to choose between feeding families and giving families health insurance. We can do both."
President Trump confirmed that a friend of his donated $130 million to help pay the military today. The administration also plans to move around more than $5 billion from various accounts to cover the costs, including about $2.5 billion from the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.