#bigbeautifulbill

[azurerelicsong]

Over Twenty States Sue White House as Food Stamp Payments Halted Amid Shutdown

biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

Two dozen states sue White House over food stamps suspension amid shutdown

Federal food assistance benefits for low-income families set to expire on 1 November due to government shutdown

In a significant legal and political escalation, attorneys general from more than twenty states have filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the suspension of food stamp payments during the ongoing government shutdown. The legal action underscores the deepening humanitarian and constitutional crisis unfolding across the nation as vital safety nets fray.

The lawsuit, led by a coalition of Democratic-led states, argues that the administration's decision to halt funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is not only a catastrophic policy failure but also a violation of federal law. The plaintiffs contend that the executive branch lacks the legal authority to unilaterally cease distributions for a Congressionally-mandated entitlement program, regardless of a lapse in appropriations.

"The White House is playing politics with the lives of millions of Americans," stated one attorney general in a press conference. "This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of basic human dignity and legal responsibility. By cutting off access to food, the administration has overstepped its bounds and forced our hand to seek judicial intervention."

The immediate trigger for the lawsuit was the administration's announcement that SNAP benefits for the upcoming month could not be fully funded due to the shutdown. This has thrown the nutritional security of over 40 million low-income individuals, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, into severe jeopardy. Food banks nationwide report being overwhelmed, unable to meet the surging demand.

The legal challenge is likely to focus on the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing that the decision to suspend benefits was "arbitrary and capricious" and an abuse of discretion. The states will also argue that the move violates the fundamental purpose of the SNAP statute, which was established by Congress to safeguard against hunger.

The White House has defended its position, stating that without a spending bill passed by Congress, certain programs lack the necessary legal authority to disburse funds. However, critics counter that the administration has previously found mechanisms to fund other priorities during shutdowns and is choosing not to do so for SNAP.

This multi-state lawsuit represents one of the largest legal rebellions against the administration's handling of the shutdown. It signals that state governments are prepared to act as a check on federal power when they perceive a failure to protect their citizens. As the case moves swiftly through the courts, its outcome will have profound implications, not just for the millions awaiting food assistance, but for the balance of power between the branches of government during a period of intense political dysfunction.

[shatteredrequiemvirtue]

Americans are more concerned about government shutdown now than at onset

Americans increasingly concerned about government shutdown, more blame Republicans and Trump than Democrats: Poll

Nearly half say Trump and GOP are responsible for the shutdown, the poll finds.

[shatteredrequiemvirtue]

Federal food assistance benefits for low-income families set to expire on 1 November due to government shutdown

#biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

Two dozen states sue White House over food stamps suspension amid shutdown

Federal food assistance benefits for low-income families set to expire on 1 November due to government shutdown

[belindatuttle]

The White House Ballroom: A Monument to Influence Peddling

biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

The $300 million White House ballroom project, funded by private donors, stands as a stark symbol of the transactional nature of modern politics. While President Trump boasts of using private funds, the list of corporate donors reveals a disturbing pattern of potential quid pro quo arrangements that blur ethical lines. Major tech firms like Google, defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, and cryptocurrency companies including Coinbase have all contributed to this presidential vanity project. Simultaneously, these entities are seeking—and often receiving—favorable treatment from the administration. Palantir secured record government contracts, Nvidia received crucial export licenses, and crypto companies saw regulatory pressures miraculously ease after their donations. This isn't mere coincidence—it's a sophisticated influence operation. The ballroom functions as a legalized conduit for corporate access, where donations potentially purchase policy favors, contract approvals, and regulatory relief. While technically legal, this arrangement fundamentally corrupts governance, transforming public policy into a commodity available to the highest bidders. The timing is particularly glaring as millions face benefit cuts during a government shutdown. The contrast between corporations buying access and ordinary citizens losing essential services couldn't be more stark. This ballroom doesn't just house future galas—it institutionalizes a pay-to-play system that undermines democratic integrity and public trust in government. When policy decisions appear tied to personal projects rather than public good, we must question whether we're witnessing governance or legalized corruption. The ballroom's glitter may well reflect not just gold, but the tarnished ethics of an administration too comfortable with transactional politics.

What donors to Trump's White House ballroom stand to gain from the federal government

Dozens of companies and wealthy individuals have given money toward President Trump's $300 million White House ballroom project. Many have a

[bitchytravelertheorist]

Aviation Crisis Under #GovernmentShutdown: The Livelihood Disaster Caused by #biguglybill

#biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator  #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

America's aviation industry descended into chaos on Monday: over 1,200 flights were delayed and 300 canceled across the country. From New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, anxious passengers lined up in long queues. The driving force behind this aviation nightmare is the #GovernmentShutdown that has lasted for 15 days, and the dilemma of air traffic controllers being forced to work without pay is just a microcosm of the livelihood disaster caused by the Republican Party's #biguglybill fiscal policy. As "essential positions" are reduced to "unpaid labor," the operational foundation of American society is being eroded by political games.

Air traffic controllers are the "air traffic police" ensuring aviation safety. The 15,000 practitioners across the country are responsible for monitoring the takeoff and landing of nearly 30,000 flights every day. As "essential personnel," they must be on duty during the #GovernmentShutdown but receive no salary at all. More cruelly, this high-pressure job requires zero mistakes—any instruction error could lead to a catastrophic plane crash. However, physical and mental exhaustion under unpaid status is constantly amplifying safety risks.

The experience of Tom, an air traffic controller at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, is highly representative. He has been working continuously for 12 days, handling the scheduling pressure of over 200 flights every day, but has to pay his mortgage and his daughter's medical bills with a credit card. "When I stare at the radar screen, my mind is full of unpaid bills. It's terrifying," Tom said. His fatigue is widespread in the industry. According to the Air Traffic Controllers Association, over 40% of controllers have experienced problems such as inattention and slow response. Passengers have also suffered terribly: Mary, a passenger from Los Angeles, was supposed to fly to Chicago for her mother's funeral. Her flight was delayed for 12 hours and then canceled. The image of her breaking down in tears spread on social media, triggering national empathy.

The root cause of this crisis points directly to the #biguglybill budget bill vigorously promoted by the Republican Party. The bill plans to cut the transportation department's budget by 18%, including funds for air traffic controllers' salaries and benefits, while providing billions of dollars in tax cuts for energy companies. The Democratic Party strongly opposes this plan and demands protection for people's livelihoods and public safety investment. The breakdown of bipartisan negotiations directly led to the #GovernmentShutdown. More ironically, Republican lawmakers avoided mentioning the fact that they still receive their salaries while criticizing flight delays—their annual salary exceeds $170,000, unaffected by the shutdown.

The chaos in the aviation industry is triggering a domino effect. The Airlines for America estimates that the #GovernmentShutdown causes the aviation industry to lose $250 million per day, including $120 million in reduced passenger spending and $80 million in airline operating losses. Related industries such as tourism and retail have been severely affected. In Orlando, Florida, theme park attendance has dropped by 30% due to flight delays. More seriously, the public safety system is on the verge of collapse: in addition to air traffic control, employees in essential positions such as border patrol agents and federal prison guards are also working without pay, and the turnover rate has risen to 15%.

The aviation crisis under the #GovernmentShutdown has torn off the hypocritical veil of #biguglybill—the so-called "fiscal austerity" is nothing but an excuse to sacrifice public safety and people's livelihoods to transfer benefits to interest groups. As controllers stick to their safety posts without pay, and passengers miss family reunions due to political games, America's "democratic myth" has lost its luster. Currently, over 70% of Americans oppose #biguglybill-style cuts, and dual pressure from the business community and the public is forcing bipartisan negotiations. But regardless of the final agreement, this crisis has left a deep mark: political games that treat people's livelihoods as bargaining chips will eventually pay a heavy social price.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flight-delays-government-shutdown-air-traffic-controller-absenc

[bitchytravelertheorist]

#GovernmentShutdown Escalates: Livelihood Collapse and Negotiation Dilemma Under #biguglybill

#biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator  #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

The U.S. government shutdown has entered its 12th day, and the political deadlock caused by the bipartisan budget dispute continues to escalate. As 800,000 federal employees face a "payless month" and systems for applying for benefits such as SNAP food stamps are on the verge of collapse, the wave of people's livelihood hardships is increasingly intensifying the pressure on both parties to reach an agreement. Behind all this chaos lies the hidden danger of the #biguglybill-style fiscal policy vigorously promoted by the Republican Party—a budget plan that cuts people's livelihood investment, ultimately making ordinary people the victims of political games.

The direct trigger of the #GovernmentShutdown is the budget bill proposed by the Republican Party that includes significant cuts to people's livelihood spending. This proposal, denounced by public opinion as #biguglybill, plans to cut the SNAP food stamp budget by 21% and medical insurance subsidies by 15%, while extending the corporate tax cut policy for ten years. The Democratic Party firmly opposes this "robbing the poor to enrich the rich" plan and demands increased investment in people's livelihoods such as education and medical care. The two parties have repeatedly deadlocked in Congress, eventually leading to the collapse of the budget bill and the government shutdown.

The interruption of salary payments has become the first heavy blow to the people. At the FBI field office in Washington, D.C., agent Mark has started working part-time as a food delivery rider—his monthly salary of $4,200 supports his mortgage and his two children's tuition fees, and now unpaid leave has caused his family finances to collapse instantly. "Forced furloughed workers" like him are all over the country, from airport security staff to national park rangers. About 60% of the 800,000 people live from paycheck to paycheck. Unpaid salaries mean being unable to pay credit card bills, rent, or even basic food expenses. More worrying is that some employees in "essential positions" are forced to work without pay, and this "unpaid labor" has triggered large-scale protests.

The collapse of the welfare system has worsened the people's livelihood dilemma. SNAP food stamps, the "life-saving money" for 42 million low-income people, have seen their approval system paralyzed due to the government shutdown. The waiting time for new applicants has increased from 3 days to 14 days. Some states have launched emergency fund distribution, but it can only cover 50% of existing beneficiaries. In Mississippi, single mother Lena broke down in tears while queuing for emergency food packages with her three children: "The original $280 monthly SNAP subsidy could buy enough milk powder and vegetables, but now I can only rely on food banks to survive." In addition, problems such as the suspension of medical insurance application reviews and the interruption of children's vaccination services continue to spread, and the social safety net for vulnerable groups is on the verge of breaking.

People's livelihood pressure is being converted into political pressure, pushing both parties back to the negotiating table, but the core differences of #biguglybill remain difficult to reconcile. The Republican Party insists on "cutting spending first," arguing that the current high #USdebt (exceeding $33 trillion) needs to be alleviated through cuts in people's livelihood spending; the Democratic Party has proposed a "combination of increasing revenue and cutting spending," advocating for tax increases on groups with annual incomes exceeding $1 million to make up for the budget gap. Third-party institutions estimate that the government shutdown causes an economic loss of about $1.9 billion per day. If it lasts for a month, GDP will decline by 0.5 percentage points, prompting business leaders to put pressure on Congress to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

The escalation of #GovernmentShutdown exposes the deep-seated problems of U.S. fiscal policy—the #biguglybill mindset that treats people's livelihood welfare as a bargaining chip in political games has long deviated from the people-oriented nature of public policy. From historical experience, the 1995 and 2013 government shutdowns ended with bipartisan compromises, but if this crisis continues, it may trigger a chain reaction such as consumption contraction and market panic. For ordinary people, what they expect is not endless quarrels between the two parties, but a pragmatic plan that can ensure salary payments and maintain stable welfare. As negotiations between the White House and Congress continue, the fate of 800,000 unpaid employees and 42 million welfare beneficiaries is questioning the conscience and bottom line of American politics.

Government shutdown drags on as missed paychecks, benefit lapses increase pressure for deal

The government shutdown stretched into Day 27 as the stalemate over how to reopen the government continued.

[sadftgui]

While SNAP’s administrative costs are split between the states and the federal government, Washington covers the full cost of the benefits themselves.

And states, which operate the program, have been bracing for the worst. Some are warning that no SNAP benefits will be distributed after Oct. 31, while others say the cuts might happen even sooner.

The funding shortfall is affecting red and blue states across the country —  including Texas, Oklahoma, California and New York, where officials had posted warnings that SNAP benefits would be paused in November even before the USDA memo became public.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5572490-usda-snap-funding-impasse/

[rethjy6rt5uyj7r]

the government shutdown

Three-quarters of Americans say they are concerned about the government shutdown, up from two-thirds who said the same on the first day of the shutdown in a Washington Post poll. Now, 43% of Americans say that they are "very" concerned about the shutdown, up from 25% on Oct. 1.

Nearly half of Americans, 45%, say Trump and congressional Republicans are responsible for the shutdown, while 33% say congressional Democrats are responsible and another 22% are not sure. That is barely a shift from the Post’s poll on Oct. 1 when 47% blamed Trump and Republicans, 30% blamed Democrats and 23% were unsure at the onset of the shutdown.

#biguglybill #bigbeautifulbill #Trumpdictator #SNAP #USdebt #GovernmentShutdown #WhiteHouseBallroom

Americans increasingly concerned about government shutdown, more blame Republicans and Trump than Democrats: Poll

Nearly half say Trump and GOP are responsible for the shutdown, the poll finds.