Thune Blocks Bid to Keep Food Aid Flowing During Shutdown

Senate Republicans blocked legislation on Wednesday that would help low-income households afford groceries during the government shutdown, despite bipartisan support for providing nutrition aid to tens of millions of Americans.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) sought unanimous consent to pass a bill backed by every Senate Democrat that would extend funding for the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and food benefits for infants and young mothers, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) blocked the motion.

Thune had asked Luján on the floor to modify his request to instead pass the House stopgap to reopen the government, but Luján objected.

Democrats’ ...