Republicans made ICE and border patrol essential to receive payments, but not SNAP, during the shutdown. They are spending $300M to tear down the East Wing and put a ballroom in, during the shutdown. This is a choice, as Republicans control both the legislative and executive branches.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/17/trump-govern...

https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/many-low-incom...

https://www.axios.com/2025/10/23/trump-white-house-east-wing...

Republicans have not been shy about admitting their desire to cut assistance programs like SNAP. It's silly to pretend these programs would be safer or not cut if the government was open.

The whole fight over the shutdown is the Republicans not wanting to renew healthcare assistance.