White House warns of flight disruptions and SNAP payment risks as shutdown standoff deepens

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House warned on Thursday, October 23, that the ongoing government shutdown could trigger major air travel disruptions and a halt in food assistance benefits if Congress fails to pass a spending measure soon.

At a press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration is growing increasingly concerned about the economic impact of the funding lapse.

She also accused Democrats of keeping the government closed for political gain.

Leavitt claims that people will suffer in the holiday season

Karoline Leavitt said that people would suffer this holiday season if Democrats continued to keep the government closed.

“If the Democrats continue to keep the government closed, we fear there will be significant flight delays, disruptions and cancellations in major airports across the country this holiday season,” Leavitt told reporters.

“If Democrats continue to shut down the government, they will also be shutting down American air travel,” she added.

Leavitt said that the White House is reportedly in contact with air traffic controllers and airline associations to monitor the situation. 

She warned that the shutdown could soon affect scheduling and staffing at major airports.

SNAP benefits and federal paychecks at risk

Leavitt also warned that the lapse in funding could threaten critical federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to over 40 million Americans.

"If Democrats continue to hold Americans hostage, there will not be enough funds to provide SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans on Nov 1,” she said.

“Democrats are solely responsible for all of this unnecessary pain," she added. 

She added that more than 500,000 civilian federal employees will probably miss a full paycheck by Friday if Congress fails to act.

“We urge Democrats to please pass the Continuing Resolution so we can just end this madness and this chaos,” Leavitt pleaded. 

“Why are they doing it? To give taxpayer-funded health care benefits to illegal aliens — some of whom are violent criminals,” she continued.

The press secretary also accused Democrats of political hypocrisy.

“I’ll just point out the irony in Democrats holding the government and the American public hostage over a healthcare system they created,” she said.

“We need to open the government, and then we can have these very important conversations about healthcare,” she concluded.

Democrats block GOP bill to pay essential workers

In the Senate, Democrats blocked a Republican-led bill that reportedly would have temporarily ensured pay for essential federal workers during the shutdown.

The measure, sponsored by Sen Ron Johnson, failed to advance in a 54–45 vote.

The bill would have guaranteed paychecks for employees required to work through the shutdown, but not for furloughed staff — all of whom are legally entitled to back pay once the government reopens.

Democratic Senators John Fetterman, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock broke ranks to support the GOP proposal.