The USDA website blames trans people and immigrants for SNAP benefits set to expire on November 1, according to Advocate. Moving toward a full month of being shut down, the U.S. government rages on as Republicans and Democrats fail to agree on a series of funding bills overrun with conservative policy riders for Fiscal Year 2026. The premiere policy is whether to extend Obamacare subsidies, which keeps insurance costs significantly lower for those that qualify.
More than 42 million Americans could lose food access assistance when SNAP benefits expire. The USDA and White House websites blame Democrats for the shutdown. The former has released an official notice on their site accusing Democrats of valuing “healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures” rather than reopening the government “so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
Republicans are forcing many families to view propaganda when opening the USDA website. The Trump administration continues to use transgender and undocumented folks as a scapegoat despite the Republican party controlling every branch of government.
“The Trump administration will not use emergency funds to pay out SNAP benefits to the millions of Americans who rely on them,” says Advocate. The Pentagon has accepted a $130 gift from a wealthy donor to help pay military salary during the shutdown. The 1.3 million active military members will receive a $100 each from the donation. Trump plans to use money from a military housing fund, a research-and-development account, and a defense procurement fund to pay the troops on October 31, according to Axios.
Legal experts raise concern that the USDA and White House posts may violate federal laws that prohibit the use of using taxpayer funds for political purposes including the Anti-Lobbying Act and the Hatch Act.
The ongoing negotiations will hold transgender rights at the center. Anti-trans provisions are expected to resurface during the Congressional debates. Though it has been a stressful 10 months of anti-trans legislation under the current administration, citizens are not helpless. Call your elected officials to take a stance on transgender rights and federal budget negotiations.
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