Partisan Message Appears on Nebraska DHHS Website; Department Contacted for Clarification

October 30, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. — A statement on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website is raising questions for its unusually partisan language, blaming Democrats in the U.S. Senate for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The message appears on the agency’s official Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) webpage, which provides information for low-income families receiving food assistance.

The message, displayed at the top of dhhs.ne.gov/SNAP, reads in part:

“Due to a failure by Democrats in the U.S. Senate to pass a clean funding bill, resulting in a federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits that many Nebraska families and kids depend on are now unavailable in November.”

The statement continues, alleging that “misinformation” is coming from “Senate Democrats” and urging them to “approve a clean funding bill and stop using Nebraska’s most vulnerable people for political leverage.”

Screenshots reviewed by McCook News Now confirm the message remains publicly visible as of 5:30 p.m. CT on October 30, 2025, including when viewed in incognito mode to rule out cached content.

Background and Clarification Request

Other sections of the same page include standard information about SNAP benefits and the ongoing federal government shutdown, stating that November benefits “may be delayed or disrupted” until funding resumes. However, the political language at the top of the page diverges sharply from the neutral tone typically used in government communications.

The federal government shutdown has affected the timing of SNAP benefit distributions nationwide. While state agencies often post updates about delays, it is unusual for an official state webpage to include language assigning political blame.

To verify the authenticity of the post and determine whether it represents official DHHS messaging or a possible website error, McCook News Now contacted DHHS through multiple official channels:

• Jeff Powell, DHHS Communications Director (email sent Oct. 30)

• dhhs.webmaster@nebraska.gov (for website verification)

• dhhs.pio@nebraska.gov, the department’s official Public Information Office address listed for media inquiries

As of publication time, no response has been received, and the message remains live on the DHHS website.

What SNAP Recipients Should Know

According to the same page, DHHS staff remain available to accept and process applications, recertifications, and reported changes. Any previously issued funds on EBT cards will remain available.

The department advises checking dhhs.ne.gov/SNAP for ongoing updates as federal guidance is received.

Editor’s Note

McCook News Now has requested comment from DHHS officials and will update this article if the department confirms whether the statement reflects official communication or if the webpage content changes.