Food Benefits Expected to Cease for Over 40 Million During Continuing Government Closure
USDA officials declared this past weekend that SNAP funds under one of the country’s largest support systems will not be distributed during the coming month because of the continuing government funding lapse.
Shutdown Extends For Nearly Four Weeks
The government shutdown had reached three and a half weeks as officials revealed the news, coming after appeals by more than two hundred Congressional Democrats pushing the USDA to access contingency funds to fund November's food assistance.
“Bottom line, funds are depleted,” officials announced. “At this time, no payments will be distributed” starting next month.
National Consequences
Tens of millions of people depend on the regular assistance, per federal data. Various areas, such as one southwestern state, dependence on SNAP is as high as 21% of residents.
A memo obtained by a major news agency revealed that federal authorities chose not to tap contingency funding to cover next month's assistance.
Partisan Impasse
Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree over how to finance and restart the federal government.
Remarks from the director at a budget research center noted that the White House had opportunities to prepare in advance to avoid interruption in payments.
“Officials were able and expected to taken steps weeks ago to make arrangements to utilize available money,” the remarks concluded. “Conversely, they might decide against it in an effort to gain political advantage” as Republicans seek to influence Democratic senators to support a spending bill that would reopen federal functions.
Emergency Measures
Governors in Louisiana and Virginia activated emergency protocols recently to make money available for hunger relief preparing for SNAP benefits not being issued next month.