Nutrition Assistance Scheduled to Expire for Tens of Millions During Ongoing Federal Shutdown
Federal agriculture authorities announced recently that nutrition assistance payments from a major federal support systems will not be distributed in November because of the continuing federal government shutdown.
Closure Continues For Nearly Four Weeks
The funding lapse was in nearly a month at the time of the statement, in response to demands from hundreds of Congressional Democrats urging the department to tap into emergency reserves to pay for the upcoming nutrition payments.
“The reality is, resources are exhausted,” the department confirmed. “Currently, assistance will not be provided” on 1 November.
National Consequences
Over 40 million Americans depend on these food benefits, as reported by official statistics. Various areas, including one southwestern state, reliance on SNAP is as high as one-fifth of the population.
Internal communications seen by Reuters showed that the department chose not to tap contingency funding for the upcoming payments.
Legislative Deadlock
Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree about the way to support and resume government operations.
A statement from the director at a budget research center indicated that the administration could have acted to take earlier action to avoid interruption in payments.
“It could have, and should have acted weeks ago to be prepared to access these resources,” the remarks concluded. “Rather, they might decide against it to secure political leverage” as conservative leaders work to push upper chamber Democrats to support a funding package that would reopen federal functions.
States Prepare
Governors in two affected states declared states of emergency this week to make money available to address food insecurity in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued in November.
