Nebraska DHHS Faces Scrutiny for Political Message Blaming Democrats for Shutdown

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is facing criticism after posting a politically charged banner on its website that blamed U.S. Senate Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown and warned that SNAP benefits could run out by the end of the month.

The banner urged Democrats to “stop using Nebraska’s most vulnerable people for political leverage.” The post was later updated to attribute the message directly to Gov. Jim Pillen, following media inquiries and public backlash.

A DHHS spokesperson said the change was made at the Governor’s Office’s request to “eliminate any confusion” about the source of the statement. Pillen’s office later confirmed that it had approved the post.

Critics, including State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, argued that the message violated state law, which prohibits using public resources for political purposes. Conrad said the edit was an attempt by the governor to “thread the needle” after overstepping his authority.

Officials from Common Cause Nebraska said the post likely didn’t violate state law but drew comparisons to similar controversies under the Trump administration, when federal agencies were accused of using government platforms for partisan messaging during past shutdowns.

The banner’s publication coincided with DHHS announcing that SNAP benefits for about 150,000 low-income Nebraskans would be paused due to the shutdown. The agency said it couldn’t independently fund the program because it wasn’t financially sustainable.

Meanwhile, 25 states have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its decision not to use emergency funds to continue SNAP benefits in November. Other states, including Virginia, Rhode Island, and Iowa, have taken steps to provide state-level relief through food banks or emergency funding.

On Thursday, Lincoln attorney Vince Powers, representing Kay Siebler, filed a lawsuit against DHHS CEO Steve Corsi, alleging the banner was “false, misleading, and unlawful.”

Local leaders, including Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., along with the Food Bank for the Heartland and Community Alliance, are urging the public to donate food and funds to support residents affected by the benefit pause.

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