WASHINGTON—House Majority Whip Tom Emmer says that most Americans have not yet felt the brunt of the government shutdown. But, as the fight hits its 30-day mark, the Minnesota Republican warns: “this is the week it begins.”
“Democrats have caused a shutdown which is causing significant pain,” Emmer told The Daily Wire in an exclusive interview.
“Air traffic controllers didn’t get their first paycheck. More federal workers will not get a paycheck on Friday. SNAP benefits will lapse, in many states, unless they’ve got a governor who’s trying to figure out a way to fill the gap, 42 million low income Americans are going to be without their SNAP benefits because of this shutdown — caused solely by Democrats,” Emmer said.
The Department of Agriculture issued a statement ahead of the looming November 1 deadline for funding for food stamps, saying that “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA statement says. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”
“It’s only going to get worse,” Emmer said, adding that the shutdown is causing “significant pain.”
Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan reported that Vice President JD Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and aviation leaders held a press conference on Thursday, warning of major travel delays.
“A lot of our [air travel workers] can go through the miss of one paycheck – and it’s hard for them … none of them can get through two paychecks. If Democrats don’t get their act together very quickly, you’re going to see huge problems,” Duffy said.
CNBC reported Delta and United Airlines urged senators to pass the clean continuing resolution on Thursday.
“Missed paychecks only increases the stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe and secure,” the company reportedly said.
The military is feeling the effects of the shutdown as well.
Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger (R-Texas), a veteran, joined The Ben Shapiro Show on Thursday to explain how the government shutdown is impacting military readiness while putting financial strain on families who depend on their paychecks for rent, food, and other essentials.
On the Senate floor Thursday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace begins in two days, and claimed Republicans have “spent the entire shutdown with their heads in the sand — the shutdown they caused — because they would not negotiate with Democrats.”
WATCH: @SenSchumer: “Republicans have spent the entire shutdown with their heads in the sand – the shutdown they caused – because they would not negotiate with Democrats…” pic.twitter.com/eW0FxCklJm
— Amber Jo Cooper (@AmberJoCooper) October 30, 2025
Schumer has repeatedly blamed Republicans for the shutdown and said they have control of the House, Senate, and White House.
Emmer said he believes Democrats have been “lying” about the shutdown since day one and noted there is a filibuster that needs 60 votes to pass off the floor. Given there are 53 Republicans, seven Democrats are needed to reopen the government.
On Wednesday, Democrats attempted to pass a funding bill for SNAP; however, Senate Majority Leader John Thune objected and demanded Democrats reopen the government.
“YOU VOTED NO 13 TIMES!”: @LeaderJohnThune is fired up on the Senate floor and objected to Sen. Lujan’s bill to fund SNAP food stamps and WIC nutrition programs.
“The senator from New Mexico is absolutely right, SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting… pic.twitter.com/aVWnRFnwO8
— Amber Jo Cooper (@AmberJoCooper) October 29, 2025
Thune said the bill was a “cynical attempt to provide political cover for Democrats, to allow them to carry on their government shutdown for the long-term.”
“They [Democrats] are directly responsible for any interruption of SNAP benefits. And the idea that this can be paid out of here, this can be paid out of there. Look, why don’t they just vote for the clean CR?” Emmer said.
It’s clear that Republicans are united behind the same message: the government must reopen.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has repeatedly said that House Republicans are on “vacation.” However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said the House has “done its work” in passing the continuing resolution a month ago.
Emmer said Republicans have been “working their tail off” in their districts while the Democrats “shut the government down.”
He said their offices are taking calls from constituents and they are trying to help them with “frankly, with a lot of problems that are being caused by the Democratic shutdown.”
“If [Jeffries] thinks we’re on vacation or he thinks more importantly that Democrat senators walking over to the Senate floor once a week, twice a week, and voting ‘no’ is ‘working.’ Well, that’s why he’s in the minority,” Emmer said.
He said that one way to see whose fault the shutdown is – would be to look at the mainstream media.
“How do you know that the Democrats are responsible for the shutdown? It should be the headline on every paper around the country. If it was Republicans that were responsible, it would be. But it hasn’t been – for 29 days,” Emmer said.
The Senate adjourned on Thursday until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3. Another vote is expected to potentially reopen the government next week.