The federal government has now been shut down for over a month, but Democrats are showing no signs of negotiating with Republicans, even as thousands are slated to lose access to welfare programs. President Donald Trump has warned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may not legally be able to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, since congressional Democrats have not agreed to approve a federal budget.

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available,” the president said in a Truth Social post. “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”

Judge John McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a ruling on Friday demanding that the USDA fund SNAP, despite the absence of a congressionally-approved budget. “The shutdown of the government through funding doesn’t do away with SNAP. It just does away with the funding of it,” the Obama-appointed judge claimed, instructing the USDA to use an emergency fund intended for hurricane victims to provide food stamps. McConnell added that “there is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food for their family.”

The president asked McConnell “to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out.” He added, “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.” The president also encouraged those who rely on SNAP to call congressional Democrats and demand that they negotiate with Republicans. “The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW!” he wrote, also providing Senate Minority Leader “Cryin’ Church Schumer’s” (D-N.Y.) office phone number.

Most Democrats, however, have tried to fault the president and Republicans for the shutdown and its consequences. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) claimed in an interview over the weekend that the president is “bargaining” with SNAP beneficiaries. “People are starving. They’re using these people as bargaining chips when all he has to do is come to the table when he knows very well that people’s health care premiums are going out of control,” the Democrat charged. “Instead, he’s tweeting out pictures of his newly remodeled bathroom with gold chandeliers and a marble bathtub. That is not where Americans are right now. They’re looking at these premiums. They’re looking at how they’re going to get food on the table. He is completely out of touch with what the American people need.”

Multiple states — including Delaware, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia — have already declared a state of emergency over the impending SNAP shortage, with blue-state officials trying to pin the blame on Republicans. Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), for example, shared that the Empire State receives $650 million annually for SNAP funding, arguing that “it’s immoral for people to suffer because Republicans will not unleash the food emergency funds that are sitting there.” Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) also faulted Republicans, saying, “Withholding funding from food assistance is not just illegal, it’s also cruel.”

Republicans have been quick to point out, however, that Democrats are the ones refusing to make a deal on a federal budget, even rejecting a continuing resolution (CR) that would have maintained Biden-era spending. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) issued a statement saying, “We should not allow our elderly, disabled, or children to go hungry because of the Washington, D.C. Democrats’ failure to reopen the federal government.” When Florida Democrats asked Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to declare a state of emergency over SNAP funding, the Republican governor quipped that they should write a letter to Schumer and Democrats in the U.S. Senate.

On Friday night’s episode of “Washington Watch,” Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) reported that she is “not surprised at all” that Democrats are refusing to negotiate with Republicans, despite the effects on the American people. “I just want to remind people that the Democrats lie without shame. I want to remind them again,” the congresswoman emphasized. “They said the border was secure when they let over 10 million illegals in, and now they want us to pick up the tab and cover their benefits, in particular health care, but also SNAP benefits. So I think that this is highlighting the abuse, and it’s basically unsustainable,” she continued. “Our national debt is probably $36 or 37 trillion. Now they want us to spend another $1.5 trillion in the short term. And they’ve already voted for this CR over 10 times. This is the exact thing that they voted for. They are using this as leverage for political reasons and to advocate for illegals.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) even shared that the president is “desperate” to reopen the government but is being blocked by Democrats. “He is a big-hearted president. He wants everybody to get their services, and the health services for veterans and SNAP benefits and all the rest,” Johnson recounted. “He’s tried everything he can, and he is now exhausting his ability. The courts are now saying you can’t go any further. So he’s just desperate for the government to open. He’s tried everything. He’s tried to negotiate with them. He’s pleaded with them and they’ve still dug their heels in.”

At least one Democrat agrees with his Republican colleagues and faults his own party for continuing the government shutdown. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) shared that he finds it “deeply, deeply distressing to know that 42 million Americans are going to lose their SNAP benefits. And now that’s one of the big reasons why I refuse to shutting [sic] our government down.” He added, “I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, we’re shutting it down.” The Democrat continued, “This is an absolute fail. It is actually embarrassing, honestly, if we can’t even keep the lights on.”

The American public is also split on who to blame for the shutdown. According to an NBC News survey conducted late last month, nearly half (42%) of Americans blame congressional Democrats for the shutdown, but a combined total of 52% fault the president and congressional Republicans: 25% blame Republicans in Congress, 24% blame the president, and three percent blame both congressional Republicans and Trump.

In comments to The Washington Stand, Quena González, senior director for Government Affairs at Family Research Council, explained, “This poll regarding the shutdown, like the liberal media coverage in general, is unfairly biased. The question is framed as the shutdown being the result of a failure by the president and congressional Democrats to reach an agreement.” The NBC News survey phrased its question: “President Trump and the Democrats in Congress have not reached a budget agreement, and this has led to a partial shutdown of the federal government.” González noted, “That framing is fundamentally false: Congressional Republicans, not the president, are trying to negotiate with congressional Democrats, and what Republicans have offered is to extend Biden-era funding levels to keep the government open or to re-open the government while Republican and Democrat appropriators work out new funding levels.”

“Senate Democrats, not Republicans, have voted 13 times to reject Biden-era funding levels and keep the government closed. Contrary to the media reporting, which makes it sound like Republicans are to blame, congressional Republicans are not being underhanded,” González continued. “Despite controlling the House, the Senate, and the White House, Republicans have offered a straightforward continuing resolution without any conservative policy riders. It is an objective fact that Democrats, not Republicans, are the ones keeping the government shut down. This poll, both in its framing and in its results, is evidence of the media bias propping up Democrats to a degree that Republicans have never, and will never, enjoy from the liberal press.”