What we covered here
• Rulings on SNAP benefits: President Donald Trump said this evening that he’s asked his administration’s lawyers to seek clarity from the courts on “how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” after judges ordered the administration to tap into emergency funds to partially cover the food stamp benefits in November.
• Benefit delays: Millions of Americans could still face delays to their benefits, which were scheduled to be distributed tomorrow but disrupted by the government shutdown. Other programs remain at risk.
• GOP leaders push back: GOP leaders earlier rejected Trump’s call for congressional Republicans to end the shutdown by eliminating the filibuster.
Our live coverage has ended for the day. Get the latest here.
Trump appears at Mar-a-Lago Halloween party Friday night
President Donald Trump spent his Friday evening at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago Club, though he opted not to wear a costume.
Cameras inside the crowded event captured Trump in conversation with his Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also seen at the president’s table were his daughter Tiffany and son in law Michael Boulos.
The party, held on the 31st day of the government shutdown, was “The Great Gatsby”-inspired with a theme of “a little party never killed nobody,” per the White House.
Air traffic control staffing problems continue nationwide. Catch up on the latest impacts
The Federal Aviation Administration is reporting air traffic control staffing problems across the country.
Thirty-nine facilities are currently reporting shortages, according to the FAA’s latest operational update.
Ground delays longer than two hours are expected at some of the affected airports, according to the FAA.
Here are some of the major airports that have seen impacts throughout the day today:
- New York’s LaGuardia and JFK International, where shortages briefly caused ground stops
- Newark Liberty International
- Boston’s Logan International
- Houston’s George Bush International and William P. Hobby
- Dallas Fort Worth International
So far, at least 333 staffing problems have been reported since the start of the shutdown, according to the FAA.
Remember: Not every staffing shortage results in a delay, as controllers can reroute flights, but sometimes there is no choice but to slow planes down to maintain safety.
Controllers are considered essential staff and must work during the shutdown, despite not being paid. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says some have called in sick in protest, while others are taking time to work other jobs.
Trump says he has instructed lawyers to ask courts "how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible”
President Donald Trump said he has instructed his administration’s lawyers to seek clarity from the courts on “how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” after judges ordered the administration to tap into emergency funds to partially cover food stamp benefits in November.
“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”
The rulings from federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island reject a controversial US Department of Agriculture claim that it could not use a contingency fund to help cover the benefits, which were scheduled to start being distributed tomorrow, amid the monthlong government shutdown.
“Even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out,” Trump added. “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay.
In May, the crucial food assistance program affected nearly 42 million people — or about 1 in 8 Americans — according to the latest USDA data.
Trump administration limits press access to offices of senior White House communications aides
The White House announced a new rule Friday that will limit reporters’ access to the offices of senior White House communications aides.
In a memo sent from the White House Communications Office, the National Security Council stated that members of the press will now be prohibited from “accessing Room 140 in the West Wing, also known as ‘Upper Press.’”
“This memorandum directs the prohibition of press passholders from accessing Room 140 in the West Wing, also known as ‘Upper Press,’ which is situated adjacent to the Oval Office, without an appointment. This policy will ensure adherence to best practices pertaining to access to sensitive material,” the memo reads.
“As a result of recent structural changes to the National Security Council, the White House is now responsible for directing all communications, including on all national security matters. In this capacity, members of the White House Communications Staff are routinely engaging with sensitive material,” the memo continues.
It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to shape coverage of the White House and the president. Earlier this year, the White House stripped the White House Correspondents’ Association of its role in managing the White House Press Pool, taking control of deciding who will be a part of the small rotating group of journalists and photographers who accompany the president.
And earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced beat reporters to sign restrictive new rules requiring reporters not to obtain or use unauthorized material, even if the information is unclassified, or surrender their press passes. Virtually every news outlet rejected the ultimatum and did not sign on to the new rules.
Jeffries applauds food stamp rulings and says Trump "should not be weaponizing hunger"
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries applauded two new rulings today directing the Trump administration to tap into emergency funds to partially cover food stamp benefits in November.
Asked about plans for when this contingency money runs out, Jeffries emphasized that Democrats want a bipartisan funding agreement to reopen the government. Democrats have been holding out over expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Republicans and Trump blame Democrats for keeping the government shut down and for any impacts on Americans — including for SNAP recipients.
Jeffries accused Trump of being “unwilling to actually be there for everyday Americans, working class Americans and middle class Americans who, by the way, are of every political persuasion.”
The minority leader said he has had two “brief conversations” with House Speaker Mike Johnson in the last week, “but they’re not serious.” Jeffries said Trump needs to direct Republicans to negotiate before there can be a bipartisan path forward.
Forgoing a paycheck: As hundreds of thousands of federal employees work without pay, Jeffries said he will withhold his own check when lawmakers get paid tomorrow.
Johnson’s office also told CNN the speaker would not collect his paycheck.
New York City mayoral race: Jeffries said he cast his ballot early for Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
Jeffries previously endorsed Mamdani in the contest, which could provide a glimpse into how some Americans are feeling about Trump’s presidency.
Share how losing SNAP benefits could affect you
SNAP benefits help feed more than 40 million Americans, but amid the government shutdown, those vital resources could be delayed or put on pause, leaving families hungry and worried about where their next meal will come from.
CNN is reporting on what that means for American families. Does this sound like you or a loved one? If so, we’d like to hear from you: How do you prepare, what worries you the most, and what do you want others to understand about any potential loss of assistance?
Please use the form below to get in touch. We’ll reach out before including any information in our reporting.
Top White House economic adviser says “we’re about to use emergency funds” because of “liberal judge ruling”
President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Kevin Hassett blasted what he called a “liberal judge ruling” that the Trump administration must use emergency funds to pay some SNAP benefits.
“We’re about to use emergency funds from the Department of Agriculture because of a liberal judge ruling that we disagree in the law on, but then we don’t have our emergency funds in case we have a hurricane, or we have an emergency,” Hassett said on Fox News.
Hassett, who serves as director of the National Economic Council, was reacting to two federal judges who ruled that the Trump administration must tap into billions of dollars in emergency funds to at least partially cover food stamp benefits in November. Millions of Americans could still face delays to their benefits, which were scheduled to be distributed tomorrow but disrupted by the government shutdown.
The White House referred CNN to the Office of Management and Budget when asked how the administration plans to move forward.
Trump accuses Nigeria of severe religious freedom violations
President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of severe religious freedom violations in a social media post Friday, claiming that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN,’” the president wrote on Truth Social.
By designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, the president is suggesting that his administration has found that Nigeria has engaged or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom.”
Claims of the mass slaughter of Christians, however, have been rejected by Nigeria’s government and are not backed up by data.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump’s claims in a post on X, adding: “As @POTUS said, the United States stands ready, willing, and able to act.”
Congress is typically notified of such designations annually, and sanctions to pressure the country to change its behavior may be imposed if all non-economic means have been used.
Trump on Friday said he was asking Congress to “immediately look into the matter and report back to me.”
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” he added. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World.”
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.
A second federal judge has ruled the administration must tap into emergency funds for SNAP
We reported a short time ago that a federal judge in Massachusetts had ruled the Trump administration is “required” to tap into billions of dollars in emergency funds to help partially cover food stamp benefits, which are set to expire tomorrow due to the federal government shutdown.
Now a federal judge in Rhode Island has made the same determination in a second ruling.
McConnell’s ruling came minutes after US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston made a similar order.
The rulings reject a controversial US Department of Agriculture claim that it could not use a contingency fund, which the agency says has $5.3 billion remaining in it, to help cover the benefits amid the month-long government shutdown.
However, millions of recipients will still face delays in getting their benefits, which were scheduled to start being distributed tomorrow. It will take time for the Department of Agriculture and states to get the money flowing again.
This post has been updated with additional details on today’s rulings.
Trump says he’s unlikely to resume negotiations with Canada, but praises Carney
President Donald Trump said Friday his administration is unlikely to resume trade negotiations with Canada, but he praised Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“No, but I have a very good relationship,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One about Carney when asked about resuming negotiations.
“I like him a lot, but you know what they did was wrong. He was very nice; he apologized for what they did with the commercial,” the president continued.
Trump announced last week he was terminating trade talks with Canada in response to an advertisement released by the government of Ontario that featured audio from a speech by former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs on foreign goods. (Ontario’s government subsequently said it was pulling the ad.)
“You know, it was the exact opposite. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs and they tried to make it look the other way and he did apologize,” Trump added on Friday.
Trump has repeatedly called the ad “fake,” but it was edited using clips from a 1987 Reagan speech ahead of a meeting on trade with the prime minister of Japan. Reagan has put higher tariffs on some Japanese products in retaliation for the influx of cheap Japanese semiconductors to America. But he said he was “loath” to place trade barriers on Japan and believed high tariffs were damaging to American workers and the economy.
Judge says Trump admin "required" to tap into emergency funds to cover some food stamp benefits for November
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Trump administration is “required” to tap into billions of dollars in emergency funds to help partially cover food stamp benefits for tens of millions of Americans in November, but it won’t be enough to fund the full program.
This post has been updated with a quote from Talwani’s ruling.
Trump says "it's not true” that he has decided to strike within Venezuela
President Donald Trump said Friday that “it’s not true” that he has decided to strike within Venezuela.
“No, it’s not true,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked whether he was considering striking Venezuela and whether he’d made a decision.
CNN has previously reported that the president is considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela, though he has not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with them, three US officials said.
Trump suggests his administration could find funds for SNAP benefits
President Donald Trump suggested Friday that the government could continue to fund critical food aid beyond November 1, contradicting his administration’s prior insistence there was no money available to maintain the benefits.
“Well, there always is,” Trump said in response to a question from a reporter about whether the administration could find funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, before arguing that it’d be simpler for Democrats to reopen the government. “But all the Democrats have to do is say, let’s go. I mean, they don’t have to do anything — all they have to do is say the government is open.”
Top administration officials had previously contended that they could not legally fund the roughly $9 billion needed to continue funding SNAP benefits, either through an existing contingency fund or by transferring money from other government programs.
At a news conference earlier on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asserted that the contingency fund could not be used while the government is shut down.
But several states have sued over the issue, arguing that the administration is required to tap into the contingency fund to keep the aid flowing.
Trump says Orbán has asked for an “exemption” from US sanctions on Russian oil
President Donald Trump said Friday that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has asked the United States for an exemption from sanctions for purchasing Russian oil, but that the US hasn’t granted it.
“He has asked for an exemption. We haven’t granted one, but he has, yes, Viktor, friend of mine, he’s asked for an exemption,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
CNN reported previously that the two leaders are set to meet next week, just weeks after a planned face-to-face in Budapest between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was canceled.
Last week, the US imposed sanctions on Russia for the first time in Trump’s second term, targeting Russian oil companies. Orbán also said that he has talked to Hungary’s oil and gas company on the topic and that Hungary was working on a way to “circumvent” US sanctions.
Trump refuses to specify what, exactly, he meant when calling for new nuclear tests
President Donald Trump on Friday maintained a veil of ambiguity over his directive to resume nuclear testing, telling reporters they would “find out very soon” whether he wants the first US explosive tests in decades.
“We’re going to do some testing,” he said aboard Air Force One. “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to do it.”
Trump had been asked whether he was calling for new underground tests with his public instruction this week to the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons again.
The US last tested a nuclear weapon in 1992; since then, computer simulations have been used to assess the US arsenal.
In his message, Trump claimed adversaries Russia and China were conducting their own tests, and the US simply needed to keep up. In fact, Russia and China have observed a moratorium on testing for decades. Some officials said Trump may have been prompted by Moscow’s test flights in recent days of nuclear-capable cruise missiles and torpedoes, though their existence was already known and the tests did not involve a nuclear detonation.
Trump, pressed on what precisely he was calling for, refused to say on Friday.
“I’m not going to say. I know exactly what we’re doing, where we’re doing it,” he said. “If other countries do it, we do it.”
White House tours, on pause for demolition, will resume in December
The first lady’s office says public tours of the White House will resume in December after being paused during the teardown of the East Wing.
The new tour will feature an “updated route” that presumably avoids the pile of debris left behind after the East Wing was demolished to make way for President Donald Trump’s new ballroom.
“In celebration of the holiday season, all December tours will feature the White House Christmas decorations on the State Floor,” a release from the first lady’s office reads.
“The decorations in each room will be thoughtfully designed and curated under the direction of First Lady Melania Trump,” the release continues. “Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the beloved annual tradition that transforms the White House into a festive reflection of the spirit, warmth, faith, and hope of the holiday season.”
Tours of the White House used to commence from the East Wing, where visitors went through a wood-lined foyer into the East Colonnade. Those structures are no more, and it wasn’t clear where the tours will now begin.
The tours were fully closed to the public starting September 1 in preparation for the construction as officials worked to reimagine entry, exit, and tour route, a White House official said.
Under the new tour, visitors will only have access to one floor of the White House, including the Cross Hall, East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and State Dining Room, the official said.
It will no longer include historic rooms on the ground floor, including the library, Vermeil Room, and China Room, as well as the Diplomatic Reception Room, which was opened to visitors for the first time during the Biden administration.
According to the official, some of those historic rooms are being used as office space for the first lady’s staff, who were displaced from their East Wing headquarters.
This post has been updated with additional details.
Federal workers line up at a food bank in New York
Government employees are turning to food banks to help make ends meet.
Federal worker Christina Dechabert says she is dipping into savings just to get by. Listen to what else she told CNN’s Leigh Waldman in Queens, New York:
As the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are suspended, federal employees, many who are still reporting to work without pay, are turning to food banks to help make ends meet. CNN's Leigh Waldman reports from a food bank in Queens, New York.
Agriculture secretary and House speaker reject Democrats' claim White House could fund SNAP
House Speaker Mike Johnson brought in Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to join his daily press conference today on the eve of food stamps benefits expiring for tens of millions of Americans.
The pair dismissed Democrats’ accusations that the administration is choosing to illegally withhold the money.
The issue is at the center of an ongoing court case in Massachusetts, in which a federal judge is expected to rule at any time on whether the Trump administration must release the SNAP money during the shutdown.
Asked whether she’d comply with a judge’s order requiring the government to release the money, Rollins told CNN: “We’re looking at all the options.”
A fiery Rollins rejected Democrats’ accusations as “absolutely false and it is a lie.”
Johnson jumped in to add, “Just clarifying: When she says ‘we’ have failed, she means ‘we the Democrats.’… The funds have run out because the Democrats are playing games.”
"How are we going to feed people?" DC food bank scrambles as Americans face SNAP benefits cuts
Food distribution centers are feeling the pressure to meet an uptick in demand as millions of Americans are set to lose federal food stamp benefits funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Take a look inside some of the food banks scrambling ahead of benefits lapse:
Food distribution centers are feeling the pressure to meet an uptick in demand as millions of Americans are set to lose federal food stamp benefits funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
