(NewsNation) — Pain from the federal government shutdown may become unbearable when SNAP benefits stop flowing to tens of millions of Americans on Nov. 1, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman warns.
Most members of his Democratic Party have dug in and demanded that Republicans restore health care subsidies before they agree to reopen government. Fetterman advocates flipping the switch now and later negotiating a health care deal with GOP leaders.
Without some movement, SNAP benefits will run out for 42 million Americans, he said.
Government shutdown prevents DC from issuing marriage licenses
“I don’t see how this can play much longer. When people can’t feed their families, what’s left? Things continue to degrade and break down,” Fetterman told “CUOMO” on Wednesday.
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed because of the congressional impasse, and other government workers who are still on the job are not being paid.
Fetterman said he witnessed a hunger-aid organization offering meals to Department of Transportation employees who are having a hard time making ends meet.
“We have crossed the point of absurdity,” he said. “Open this up, and all of this trauma and all of this chaos ends.”
