Shutdown exposes desperate need for social safety net reform

The U.S. government shutdown is exposing critical social vulnerabilities in our society. Unless a last-minute solution resolves the congressional impasse, federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will run dry on Nov. 1. SNAP is not the only program at risk. Meals on Wheels, which serves over 2 million seniors , and WIC, a vital lifeline for nearly 7 million mothers and young children , are also expected to exhaust their reserves. These are just a few of the many programs working to bridge economic gaps in our nation.

Opportunistic Democrats are maneuvering to exploit this looming crisis to pressure stubborn Republicans, who remain committed to passing a “clean continuing resolution” — legislation that funds the government under existing policies. With