Government Shutdown Ends, but Millions of Americans Will Feel the Pain, and Democrats' Victory Feels Like a Betrayal for Many SNAP Recipients.
As the government shutdown ended with a deal brokered by eight Democratic senators, many Americans are breathing a sigh of relief. However, millions who rely on critical social programs are facing an uncertain future. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is set to continue without significant changes, thanks in part to the concessions made by Democrats.
Sarah, a single mother of two from Maryland, says she had to ration her SNAP benefits for over a month, wondering how she would feed herself and her children. She had been out of work since May, after the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to federal contracts and eliminated her job in public health. Sarah's story is not unique; millions of Americans who receive SNAP benefits are now facing an uncertain future.
A recent deal brokered by Democratic senators, including Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ended the government shutdown without forcing Republicans to agree to any major concessions on Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act subsidies. The agreement means that tens of millions of Americans may see their health care premiums skyrocket, and an estimated 7.8 million low-income Americans will lose their insurance through Medicaid.
SNAP recipients who spoke with The Intercept are furious about the deal made by Democrats. "We sacrificed and we would continue to sacrifice because we understood what the stakes were," said Delight Worthyn, a SNAP recipient living in Connecticut. "And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this. ... I only feel betrayed."
Natalie, a delivery driver from Washington, echoed similar sentiments: "It felt like we were making a small sacrifice, skipping [meals], because we felt like we were doing something to help save people, and that we were doing something good for the country... It feels like it wasn't for anything." The Supreme Court has paused a federal judge's order that the Trump administration pay full SNAP benefits for the month of November, but some recipients have started receiving partial benefits.
Many SNAP recipients are also concerned about the impact of Medicaid cuts on their lives. Sasha Slansky, a master's student working odd jobs to pay her bills, said it is "insulting" for Democrats to use SNAP recipients as justification for caving to Republicans and President Donald Trump: "Don't talk about me and my food insecurity to justify kicking people like me off of my health care."
With millions facing uncertainty over their social programs, many are wondering what the sacrifice made by SNAP recipients meant. Delight Worthyn said, "We would continue to sacrifice because we understood what the stakes were. People's healthcare was at stake... And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this."
As the government shutdown ended with a deal brokered by eight Democratic senators, many Americans are breathing a sigh of relief. However, millions who rely on critical social programs are facing an uncertain future. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is set to continue without significant changes, thanks in part to the concessions made by Democrats.
Sarah, a single mother of two from Maryland, says she had to ration her SNAP benefits for over a month, wondering how she would feed herself and her children. She had been out of work since May, after the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to federal contracts and eliminated her job in public health. Sarah's story is not unique; millions of Americans who receive SNAP benefits are now facing an uncertain future.
A recent deal brokered by Democratic senators, including Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ended the government shutdown without forcing Republicans to agree to any major concessions on Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act subsidies. The agreement means that tens of millions of Americans may see their health care premiums skyrocket, and an estimated 7.8 million low-income Americans will lose their insurance through Medicaid.
SNAP recipients who spoke with The Intercept are furious about the deal made by Democrats. "We sacrificed and we would continue to sacrifice because we understood what the stakes were," said Delight Worthyn, a SNAP recipient living in Connecticut. "And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this. ... I only feel betrayed."
Natalie, a delivery driver from Washington, echoed similar sentiments: "It felt like we were making a small sacrifice, skipping [meals], because we felt like we were doing something to help save people, and that we were doing something good for the country... It feels like it wasn't for anything." The Supreme Court has paused a federal judge's order that the Trump administration pay full SNAP benefits for the month of November, but some recipients have started receiving partial benefits.
Many SNAP recipients are also concerned about the impact of Medicaid cuts on their lives. Sasha Slansky, a master's student working odd jobs to pay her bills, said it is "insulting" for Democrats to use SNAP recipients as justification for caving to Republicans and President Donald Trump: "Don't talk about me and my food insecurity to justify kicking people like me off of my health care."
With millions facing uncertainty over their social programs, many are wondering what the sacrifice made by SNAP recipients meant. Delight Worthyn said, "We would continue to sacrifice because we understood what the stakes were. People's healthcare was at stake... And that they would cave for nothing after we have all gone through this."
millions of americans are struggling just to put food on the table and now theyre gonna feel the pain 
those democrats think they can just use us as a bargaining chip to get what they want?
i mean whats next? we're supposed to be grateful for scraps? 
my heart goes out to ppl like sarah who had to ration her benefits cuz she cant afford food 
and now theyre just gonna lose medicaid too?! 
its like they forgot we human beings not just numbers on a spreadsheet 
u r tellin me democrats did all dis and still got nothin 4 SNAP recipients? i mean, i get it, compromise and all dat, but come on! millions of ppl r goin thru food insecurity 'cause they cant afford meals. whats da point a sacrifice if u aint goin 2 help ppl who need it most? 
this feels like a joke to me
Not cool.
It's all about politics and not about people's lives.
That healthcare is essential? I feel like we're being used as pawns in their game of politics, and it's just not right.
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. It feels like Democrats were supposed to save the day, but it just ended up hurting a lot of people in need 
. I mean, come on, folks - if you're gonna ask someone to sacrifice their food stamps for a month, don't then leave them hanging without any real change 
. And Medicaid cuts? Forget about it 
. It's like they're trying to take away healthcare from the people who need it most.
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. It just doesn't sit right with me that Democrats had to make concessions without forcing Republicans to do more. I get that they needed something to pass, but it feels like a small sacrifice for a big gain for the other side 
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. They're the ones who have been struggling all along and yet they're expected to make sacrifices so that Democrats can claim victory 
.
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what's the point of making a deal if people are still suffering? 
. IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE BEING USED AS Pawns IN SOME KIND OF POLITICAL GAME 
.