As the federal shutdown approaches the one-month mark, there’s still no end in sight. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to stand firm on the House-passed continuing resolution, while the Senate adjourned for the weekend on Thursday without scheduling another vote. Even if a deal seems possible next week, it likely won’t come in time to keep several government-funded benefit programs running without interruption. As November 1 approaches, millions of Americans may begin feeling the impact.
### The Big Day: November 1
The USDA has warned that two critical programs—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—could run out of federal funding by November 1.
WIC served more than 6.8 million families during fiscal year 2024. To help keep it afloat during the shutdown, the Trump administration has temporarily redirected $300 million in unspent tariff revenue to cover WIC expenses.
SNAP, which supports roughly 42 million people, does not currently have alternative funding sources sufficient to maintain benefits. At least 25 states plan to pause SNAP payments entirely next month, which will severely affect recipients’ ability to put food on the table.
Recipients are being advised to prioritize purchasing shelf-stable foods with existing funds or to visit food banks to help avoid hunger. Unfortunately, food banks are already feeling the strain from increased demand, with some reporting they are running low on supplies.
### Impact on Head Start Programs
Head Start, a federally funded program offering preschool and daycare services for children under kindergarten age, is also suffering. When the shutdown began, six Head Start locations—serving 6,525 children across three states—did not receive their funding.
By November 1, this number is expected to rise to 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico. An estimated 65,152 young children will have to stay home. This situation may also force at least one parent to stay home, leading to reduced household income and potentially lost jobs.
### The Shutdown Time Crunch
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 27—just three days before the November 1 deadline. The House will return on Tuesday, October 28. Even if a deal is hammered out quickly, restarting government functions that have already shut down will take time. Bureaucratic processes do not resume instantly, so service interruptions are likely to occur, even in the best-case scenario.
However, a brief interruption would be preferable to the alternative—an extended shutdown with ongoing consequences.
### Looming Challenges in November and Beyond
November also marks the start of open enrollment for Obamacare insurance plans. If pandemic-era subsidies are not renewed by December 31, they will expire, causing health insurance premiums to spike dramatically. Some estimates suggest premiums could double or even triple in certain cases, with new prices going into effect on November 1.
According to Art Caplan of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, this will be the largest premium increase since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that as many as four million Americans may drop their health insurance because of the hike.
This looming crisis is why Democratic leadership in the Senate insists on reopening the government only with an ACA subsidy extension included. Yet, some Democrats, such as Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has frequently sided with Republicans to pass the House GOP’s continuing resolution, are urging a different approach.
“I don’t care about who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s going to blink,” Fetterman said to reporters on Thursday, October 23. “America loses. Just open up the whole thing and cut the s—t.”
### What Lies Ahead?
Congress will ultimately approve government funding—whether through a stopgap continuing resolution or full-year appropriations. The only remaining questions are when that will happen and how much collateral damage will be incurred along the way.
With crucial programs under threat and millions of Americans potentially impacted, the need for swift action has never been clearer.
https://www.libertynation.com/as-the-shutdown-drags-on-social-safety-nets-will-fail/