SNAP Payments Scheduled to Expire for Over 40 Million Throughout Continuing Federal Shutdown
USDA officials declared this past weekend that SNAP funds through a critical national social assistance programs won't be issued next month due to the ongoing federal closure.
Impasse Persists Into 25th Day
The government shutdown was in its 25th day as officials revealed the news, which followed demands from hundreds of House Democrats pushing the department to tap into contingency funds to cover next month's benefits.
“Bottom line, resources are exhausted,” the department confirmed. “At this time, assistance will not be provided” on 1 November.
National Consequences
Tens of millions of people rely on the regular assistance, per official statistics. Various areas, like one southwestern state, dependence on the program reaches a significant portion of citizens.
A memo obtained by Reuters showed that USDA officials chose not to tap contingency funding to cover next month's assistance.
Partisan Impasse
Congressional leaders are still at odds regarding how to finance and restart the federal government.
Comments by the director at a budget research center suggested that the administration could have acted to act sooner to prevent benefits from running out.
“They had the ability and responsibility acted earlier to get ready to use these funds,” the comments added. “Instead, they might decide against it in an effort to gain political advantage” as conservative leaders work to push upper chamber Democrats to support a funding package that would reopen the federal government.
States Prepare
Executives in multiple regions issued emergency declarations in recent days to free up resources to combat potential hunger in anticipation of food benefits expiring in November.
