Michigan families are already feeling the effects of a federal shutdown that has reached day 23, with state leaders warning SNAP payments could be delayed and full benefits for November may not be available. State Rep. Ann Bollin and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are pointing fingers at Senate Democrats for refusing to pass a short continuing resolution, while officials scramble to blunt harm to households that rely on federal food assistance. The situation highlights how federal gridlock filters down to local grocery aisles and family budgets.
State Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, has publicly demanded that Senate Democrats reopen the federal government after the prolonged shutdown. She says federal leaders failed to prevent this and are directly responsible for delays that threaten vital programs across the country. Her criticism centers on the idea that a simple stopgap budget could keep essential services running while lawmakers work on a longer solution.
In Michigan, the scale of need is large: about 1.47 million residents depend on SNAP benefits, including roughly 572,000 children. Every month Michigan transfers $254 million onto Bridge cards that families use at grocery stores, gas stations, and farmers markets, and state officials now say there likely will not be enough money to pay full benefits for November. That shortfall would hit many households already stretched thin by inflation and rising costs.
On Thursday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be delayed because of the ongoing federal shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides funding for portions of the SNAP program that states administer, and interruptions at the federal level ripple immediately to state operations. MDHHS is preparing response plans, but those steps can only do so much without federal funds flowing again.
Nationwide, about 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits, with approximately 43% of beneficiaries coming from families with children and 36% from households that include older adults or people with disabilities. Those numbers underline why program continuity matters not just for individual families but for local grocers and rural farmers as well. A sudden reduction or delay in benefits can also reduce economic activity in communities that depend on SNAP spending.
“The situation in Washington is absolutely unacceptable,” Bollin, the House Appropriations Chair, said in a statement. “Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a simple continuation budget that would keep essential programs like SNAP running while Congress works out a longer-term deal. Because of their inaction, families who did nothing wrong are paying the price. It’s shameful, and it needs to end.”
Elizabeth Hertel, director of MDHHS, warned of the human cost if benefits are interrupted. “The impact of households losing SNAP benefits will be felt around the state,” she said. “SNAP is more than a food assistance program; it’s a lifeline for many Michigan families. It helps families put nutritious food on the table, supports local farmers and grocers, and strengthens our communities and economy. We are strongly disappointed by the USDA’s decision to delay this assistance, and in Michigan we will do what we can to help blunt this impact.”
Bollin pointed to Michigan’s own budgeting and recent bipartisan work as proof a shutdown is avoidable when leaders prioritize steady governance. She urged federal leaders to act quickly to protect people who depend on government services and to pass a clean short-term measure that keeps programs running. In her view, Washington can and should follow state examples to prevent real harm to families across the country.
“Senate Democrats need to pass a clean continuing resolution — just like we did here in Michigan — to keep the federal government operating and prevent further harm to families,” Bollin said. “Then they need to do their jobs and pass a long-term budget that provides stability for the essential services people count on. We showed in Michigan that it can be done. It’s time for Washington to follow our example and get back to work.” Senate Democrats have voted not to reopen the government 12 times since Oct. 1.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, called on House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, to reopen the federal government.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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