It’s been one month since Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress shut down the federal government — and there’s still no end in sight. Every day this crisis drags on, Minnesota’s kids, seniors, and people with disabilities face growing uncertainty about how they’ll access the food and care they need to survive.

While families are struggling, Trump is busy adding a 90,000-square-foot ballroom to the White House and pushing for even more tax breaks for billionaires.

How We Got Here

Let’s be clear: this shutdown didn’t just happen — it was a choice.

Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress are holding our government hostage to advance their extreme agenda. They’re demanding deep cuts to health care and essential services to fund more tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations.

The result? Millions of hardworking Americans could lose their health coverage, and millions more will face higher costs.

Here in Minnesota, this reckless shutdown threatens access to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and disrupts vital programs families depend on every single day.

Minnesota’s Federal Workers Are Being Left Behind

Nationwide, nearly 1.4 million federal employees have been affected — 670,000 furloughed and 730,000 working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In Minnesota, almost 18,000 workers are caught in the middle. Even though back pay is promised once the shutdown ends, families can’t pay bills with IOUs. These workers are doing their jobs — or forced to stay home — with no certainty about their next paycheck.

Programs Minnesotans Rely On Are Running Out of Time

The shutdown is draining the programs that keep families safe, healthy, and supported. Three critical lifelines are in danger:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) — helps families put food on the table.
• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — keeps homes warm during Minnesota’s long, cold winters.
• Head Start — provides children with early learning, nutritious meals, and health screenings.

But instead of funding these programs, Trump and conservatives are doubling down on a budget that favors billionaires and corporations over working families.

Food Assistance Is Drying Up

Starting November 1, SNAP benefits that help feed thousands of Minnesotans are expected to run out of funding. That means more families will go hungry, and local food shelves — already stretched thin — will struggle to meet demand.

No one in Minnesota should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

Heating Help Is in Jeopardy

With winter fast approaching, programs like LIHEAP are a lifeline for families facing rising energy costs. The shutdown has frozen funding and planning, leaving families unsure how they’ll afford to heat their homes.

Minnesota has state-level protections in place, but not every state does. If the shutdown continues, millions could face a dangerous winter without adequate heat.

Head Start Programs Could Close Their Doors

Thousands of Minnesota preschoolers could lose access to Head Start, a program that provides early education, meals, and health services to low-income families.

Without it, kids lose the support they need to grow and learn — and parents lose affordable child care options. Caregivers could be forced to quit their jobs or cut back hours, while local communities suffer the ripple effects.

Cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis are already scrambling to keep housing and community programs open as federal funds disappear.

Minnesotans Deserve Leaders Who Put People First

At a time when costs for food, housing, and energy are already soaring, no one should have to choose between heating their home and feeding their family.

Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress have made it clear: they’re willing to put the interests of the wealthy ahead of working people. That’s unacceptable.

Minnesotans deserve leaders who invest in families, not billionaires — who strengthen our communities, not tear them down.

It’s Time to Take Action

This shutdown is hurting real people — our neighbors, coworkers, and friends. It’s time to hold Donald Trump and his allies accountable.

👉 Join us in fighting back.
Sign up, get involved, and help us protect the programs Minnesotans count on. Together, we can build a government that works for everyone — not just the wealthy few.