ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - October 27, 2025

Shutdown Continues with SNAP Benefits in Jeopardy

Washington Update

Appropriations

The short-term funding measure passed by the House — and repeatedly stalled in the Senate — is set to expire in less than a month. With the bill at an impasse, congressional leaders are discussing new potential deadlines to allow more time for negotiations on full-year appropriations. Lawmakers generally agree that any stopgap to end the shutdown must extend beyond the current November 21 deadline, but opinions differ on how long the extension should last. Some Republican leaders are considering a new deadline in mid-January, while others are discussing a longer-term measure lasting through next September. House Appropriations leaders have expressed opposition to a long-term funding patch, arguing it would undermine the regular budget process.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not go out on November 1 — disrupting food access for the nearly 42 million Americans who receive assistance through the program every month. The Trump Administration decided not to use roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to sustain SNAP benefits into November. Also set to run out is funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves about 7 million low-income mothers and children.

On Sunday, October 26, U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that service members will miss paychecks by November 15 if the shutdown continues, despite the Administration's previous assurances that members of the military would be paid amid the funding lapse.  Federal funding for some Head Start programs is expected to end Saturday, affecting early childhood education centers that serve about 59,000 children across 41 states and Puerto Rico. The lapse could result in unpaid staff and temporary closures. Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Head Start programs provide education, health, and nutrition services to more than 800,000 children under age six.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing about 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers, urged Congress to end the ongoing government shutdown by passing a funding bill. The union — the largest for federal workers — called for a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government while allowing continued debate on broader policy issues. It also emphasized the need to guarantee back pay for affected employees and encouraged bipartisan cooperation to address long-term challenges, including rising costs and the federal appropriations process.

The Senate is set to reconvene this afternoon but is not scheduled to vote on the House-passed measure, which failed for the 12th time last week, to fund the government. 

Click here to access the USDA notice.

Click here to access the AFGE statement.

OCTAE Nominee Withdrawal 

On Tuesday, October 21, Kevin O’Farrell, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), withdrew his nomination for the position following a job promotion in his home state. O’Farrell currently serves as chancellor of the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career and Adult Education. His nomination, previously advanced by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was part of a broader group of nominees considered earlier this year. The withdrawal comes as the Department of Education undergoes changes in its career and technical education operations, including a recent agreement transferring administrative and payment responsibilities to the Department of Labor while the Education Department retains policymaking and oversight roles.

H-1B Visas

Lawmakers are renewing efforts to reform the H-1B visa program amid uncertainty over the Trump administration’s new $100,000 application fee. The administration recently clarified that the fee applies only to applicants living outside the United States, excluding international students already in the country transitioning from other visa categories. The change highlights ongoing challenges in reconciling the administration’s immigration policies with economic concerns from industries reliant on foreign talent. Employers and universities have pressed for clearer guidance on how the fee will be implemented and whether any sectors will be exempt.

Lawmakers from both parties have urged the administration to coordinate with Congress on comprehensive H-1B reforms addressing issues such as outsourcing, visa portability, wage standards, and eligibility criteria. The legislative progress has been slowed, however, by the ongoing government shutdown and divisions over broader immigration priorities, particularly border security. Despite those obstacles, several senators expressed optimism that bipartisan legislation to modernize the high-skilled visa system remains possible, emphasizing the need to balance domestic workforce opportunities with the economic benefits of attracting highly skilled international talent.

Department of Education

The Trump administration is considering transferring the $15 billion Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) program, which supports students with disabilities, from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a broader plan to dissolve the Education Department and distribute its functions across other agencies. Any closure of the department or transfer of its responsibilities would require congressional approval, though the administration has previously used interagency agreements to reassign programs, such as career and technical education grants to the Department of Labor, without new legislation. Education officials have said current-year funding to states, including for special education, will not be affected.

Earlier this month, 465 Department of Education employees were laid off, including 121 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees IDEA funding and compliance. A federal judge temporarily halted the layoffs, but Senate Democrats, including Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (WA), Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (WI), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (VT), expressed concern in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon that the reductions could undermine the agency’s ability to carry out core statutory responsibilities, including awarding funding provided in annual appropriations acts. Lawmakers and education advocates warned that the layoffs could weaken essential supports for students.

The proposal to move IDEA and the ongoing staffing reductions have prompted concern among education and disability advocacy groups, who caution that relocating the program or reducing staff could diminish oversight and weaken focus on educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Click here to access the full letter.

Department of Labor Consumer Price Index Report

On Friday, October 24, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the September 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI). The report showed that annual inflation rose to 3 percent, a smaller increase than expected, keeping the Federal Reserve on track for another interest rate cut next week. Prices increased 0.3 percent from August.

Following the release, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment to benefits for 2026. The White House warned that the ongoing government shutdown could prevent the release of next month’s inflation report, as BLS furloughs may halt critical data collection. The Fed continues to rely on recent reports and private-sector estimates to guide policy, though prolonged shutdown-related delays could complicate decision-making for upcoming meetings.

Click here to access the White House statement.

Senate HELP Committee Hearing

On Wednesday, October 22, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held the hearing “Labor Law Reform Part 2: New Solutions for Finding a Pro-Worker Way Forward.” During the hearing, committee members heard testimony from witnesses, including: Littler Mendelson Workplace Policy Institute Senior Advisor Thomas Beck, Institute for the American Worker President and Co-Founder Vincent Vernuccio, Stanford University Teaching Assistant Jonathan Hartley, Boeing IAM Union Local 837B Shop Steward Joshua Arnold, and National Nurses United President Mary Turner. During the hearing, Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (LA) emphasized workforce development as a priority, noting efforts to promote job access and security, including addressing the impact of illegal immigration on labor markets. Cassidy outlined areas for congressional action, including restoring worker choice in unionization, improving the integrity of union elections, supporting timely negotiation of first contracts, and ensuring employees can evaluate the effectiveness of labor agreements.

Click here to access a video and testimony from the hearing.