ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - November 3, 2025

Shutdown to Hit Record Length Soon

Washington Update

Appropriations

On Saturday, November 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for roughly 42 million people expired, while the Senate adjourned for the weekend on day 30 of the government shutdown. Without a funding agreement, the shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history on Wednesday, November 5 — surpassing the previous record of 35-days in 2018-2019. The Senate will reconvene this afternoon and is not currently scheduled to vote on the House-passed measure to fund the government. Bipartisan discussions have resumed, including consideration of a three-bill appropriations package for Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-VA, and the Legislative Branch as part of a potential agreement. Advancing this package could help break the stalemate and would fund SNAP through September.

Today the Trump administration told a federal judge that it would not tap additional funds to ensure that SNAP beneficiaries continue to receive full benefits in November, indicating that Americans who receive food stamps will only get partial payments from the federal government this month. What remains unclear is when recipients might actually receive their assistance, as the Trump administration has previously acknowledged in court that substantial delays in providing even partial benefits during the shutdown was a possibility. 

On Friday, October 31, two federal judges had ruled that the federal government must use contingency funds to continue SNAP payments during the shutdown. In Rhode Island, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute SNAP benefits as soon as possible, first using the $6 billion contingency fund and, if necessary, additional funding sources to maintain full benefits. The Administration had a noon deadline today to update the county on the status of the SNAP distributions. In a separate ruling in Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani found the planned suspension of benefits unlawful but requested additional briefing before issuing a final directive. She instructed the administration to report back by today, on whether at least reduced November benefits would be authorized. President Trump indicated he was asking for clarification from the court on funding SNAP during the shutdown. The lapse could also affect local grocery stores, which may reduce stock or employee hours. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides nutrition support, formula, and breastfeeding assistance to low-income families, is also facing funding shortages. Some states have secured enough funds to continue benefits, while others may implement waitlists or temporarily halt aid.

President Trump continues to urge GOP Senators to eliminate the filibuster, which would eliminate the 60-vote threshold and allow Republicans to advance legislation to reopen the federal government without bipartisan support. Some senators signaled that the government shutdown could end this week, citing potential shifts in negotiating positions. Republicans suggested Democrats may be more willing to reach an agreement after Tuesday’s elections, while Democrats pointed to rising health insurance premiums visible at the start of Affordable Care Act open enrollment as increasing pressure on Republicans to negotiate on health care provisions.

The Senate’s scheduled recess next week, combined with President Trump’s return to Washington after a week of international travel, is seen as increasing the likelihood of progress toward a resolution this week.  

U.S. Department of Labor

On Friday, October 31, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a new contingency plan recalling 255 furloughed workers as the government shutdown nears its second month. The plan calls for Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) staff to resume processing prevailing wage determinations and labor certification applications, while 200 additional employees are designated as essential for activities required by law at the Employment and Training Administration. An additional 55 workers in the Wage and Hour Division are funded through a resource separate from annual appropriations.

OFLC approvals are required before employers can file visa petitions with the Department of Homeland Security or obtain visas through the Department of State. The suspension of OFLC operations had created significant challenges for agricultural employers relying on the H-2A seasonal visa program. The National Council of Agricultural Employers had requested that H-2A labor certifications be deemed essential, warning that delays could threaten the peak harvest season.

The plan also allows for limited exceptions for Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) staff to produce and release the consumer price index, which is used to set Social Security cost-of-living adjustments for 2026. Other key economic data — including reports on wage growth, job openings, and import prices — remain postponed, raising concerns among Federal Reserve officials and business leaders. Payroll processor ADP has begun publishing weekly job estimates to partially fill the gap, though it is unclear if these will fully substitute for official BLS reports. Extended shutdowns could further delay releases or affect data quality.

Separately, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recalled three staff members, including newly appointed Commissioner Brittany Panuccio.

Click here to access the DOL’s contingency plan.