SNAP Payments Expected to Cease for 41 Million During Ongoing US Government Shutdown
Federal agriculture authorities stated this past weekend that nutrition assistance payments from a major federal welfare initiatives are not going out next month because of the continuing federal closure.
Closure Continues For Nearly Four Weeks
The funding lapse was in its 25th day as officials revealed the news, coming after demands from hundreds of Democratic representatives asking the department to tap into contingency funds to fund next month's benefits.
“The reality is, resources are exhausted,” the department confirmed. “At this time, assistance will not be provided” beginning in November.
National Consequences
Tens of millions of people count on these monthly payments, per official statistics. Some regions, including one southwestern state, dependence on the program is as high as 21% of residents.
Internal communications seen by Reuters showed that federal authorities would not access reserve funds for November food benefits.
Political Stalemate
Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree over how to fund and reopen the federal government.
Remarks from the leader of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted that federal leadership had opportunities to take earlier action to prevent benefits from running out.
“Officials were able and expected to made moves earlier to make arrangements to utilize available money,” the comments added. “Instead, officials could opt out for potential political benefit” as conservative leaders work to influence Democratic senators to approve a spending bill to restart federal functions.
Local Responses
State leaders from Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergency in recent days to make money available for hunger relief in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued during the upcoming period.
