Nutrition Assistance Scheduled to End for 41 Million Throughout Continuing US Government Shutdown
The United States Department of Agriculture declared this past weekend that SNAP funds under one of the country’s largest welfare initiatives won't be issued in November amid the persistent federal government shutdown.
Impasse Persists Into 25th Day
The federal closure had reached nearly a month at the time of the statement, which followed appeals by more than two hundred House Democrats asking the department to tap into contingency funds to pay for the upcoming nutrition payments.
“Ultimately, resources are exhausted,” the department confirmed. “Now, assistance will not be provided” starting next month.
Widespread Impact
Over 40 million Americans count on these monthly payments, as reported by the USDA. Various areas, such as New Mexico, reliance on the program reaches one-fifth of the population.
Internal communications seen by Reuters showed that USDA officials chose not to tap contingency funding to cover next month's assistance.
Partisan Impasse
Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over how to finance and restart the federal government.
Comments by the head of a budget research center indicated that the White House had chances to act sooner to avoid interruption in payments.
“They had the ability and responsibility acted weeks ago to be prepared to access these resources,” the comments added. “Instead, it may choose not to use them to secure political leverage” as Republicans seek to pressure Senate Democrats to vote for a spending bill to restart the federal government.
States Prepare
Governors in Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergency this week to allocate funds to combat potential hunger in anticipation of food benefits expiring next month.
