October 29, 2025
Stakes Rise for American Families as Shutdown Continues
Starting at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, the federal government was shut down for the first time in seven years. As the government shutdown drags on, the Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out on November 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide.
Republicans insist that Democrats must approve a “clean” continuing resolution that introduces no new policy provisions, but Democrats are leveraging the must-pass spending bill to push through an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced tax subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the calendar year.
States Continuing SNAP Benefits
Some states have pledged to keep SNAP benefits flowing even if the federal program halts payments, but there are questions about whether the federal government will allow that to happen. The USDA also says states would not be reimbursed for temporarily picking up the cost. Other states are telling SNAP recipients to be ready for the benefits to stop. This fight over SNAP arrives as Trump and his budget director, Russell Vought, are using the shutdown to accelerate their ongoing efforts to shrink the federal government.
Political Reductions in Force
The administration has announced 4,000 mass layoffs since October 1, initiating yet another legal battle between the administration and two federal employees unions who sued to block politically driven reductions in force.
On Wednesday, October 16, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in the Northern District of California granted the unions a temporary restraining order, halting some of the layoffs and preventing new firings until she holds another hearing on October 28 to consider an indefinite pause.
Critical Care for People With HIV
It is imperative that Congress acts to pass a short-term continuing resolution that fully funds all critical public health agencies and programs, especially those providing critical care for those with HIV.
Meanwhile, the Academy stands firmly in support of federal support of SNAP benefits and protecting federal employees while preserving the integrity of public health programs and the services they provide. We urge Congress to act swiftly to restore government operations and pass a bipartisan funding bill that protects the HIV response, preserves ACA coverage expansions, extends ACA enhanced tax credits, ensuring that health equity remains a top priority.
TAKE ACTION
Community Health Network
This action helps constituents stand firm and demand a continuing resolution that extends the enhanced ACA premium tax credits, restores Medicaid funding cut in the H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), and asserts Congress’s power of the purse to prevent the Trump administration from illegally freezing and rescinding funding for our communities.
Community Catalyst
This action mobilizes the communities impacted by spiking health insurance premiums and you can sign this petition or share your story here. For more information, please reach out to Jack Cardinal, Deputy Director of Communications at jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org.
American Association for People with Disabilities
This action urges people with disabilities and their allies to contact their Senators and Representatives and implore them to fund and reopen the government, protect access to health care, and prevent further harm to people who rely on federal benefits.
RESOURCES
Save HIV Funding Campaign
This collection of state resources serves as a reference tool as members create content, meet with state and federal legislators, or write letters to the editors. This collection of testimonials from across the country describes the detrimental impact of how threats to HIV funding and infrastructure will impact the most vulnerable when it comes to treatment, prevention, housing and support services.
Community Catalyst
This resource address the impact of the shutdown on Black and Hispanic families, who already face systemic barriers to care and disproportionate rates of medical debt.
KFF
This brief examines the impact of expiring tax credits on individuals and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and notes that many have Marketplace plans that are subsidized by state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). As a result, ADAPs could be stretched if Marketplace plans become more expensive.
IAPAC
This brief describes the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for people with HIV.
American Association for People with Disabilities
This resource explains what the government shutdown means for SNAP, WIC and disabilities programs.
Federal Employee Support Groups
These groups offer support for federal workers and their colleagues and equip them for advocacy.
View the latest Policy Update here.