Democrats are working to balance their health care demands and find solutions for SNAP, with Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Wednesday introducing legislation that would direct the USDA to release available contingency funds to ensure benefits under SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continue during the shutdown.

On the Senate floor today, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blasts majority leader John Thune (R-SD) for his inaction, calling him out on his fear of Donald Trump. Schumer urges Thune to put bipartisan bills on the floor to keep SNAP and WIC funded amid the government shutdown.

Trump called on GOP senators to ditch the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, in an Oct. 30 social media post.

President Trump called on Republicans Thursday to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and change Senate rules to allow legislation to end the 30-day long government shutdown pass with a simple

Republican congressional leaders held firm Friday in their support for the Senate’s legislative filibuster, resisting President Donald Trump’s latest call for Republicans to repeal the 60-vote threshold to reopen the government and advance his agenda with only a simple majority.

President Trump is urging Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster to reopen the government, but congressional Republicans are resisting the move.

A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Trump administration from ceasing to pay SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. The ruling came a day before the administration was set to cut off those food stamp benefits from 42 million Americans.