SNAP Payments Scheduled to End for Over 40 Million Throughout Ongoing Government Closure
Federal agriculture authorities declared on Saturday that nutrition assistance payments from a major federal social assistance programs will not be distributed next month because of the continuing government funding lapse.
Closure Continues For Nearly Four Weeks
The government shutdown lasted nearly a month when the announcement was made, coming after appeals by more than two hundred Congressional Democrats asking the department to access reserve accounts to cover the upcoming nutrition payments.
“Bottom line, funds are depleted,” the department confirmed. “Now, no payments will be distributed” on 1 November.
Widespread Impact
More than 41 million individuals depend on these food benefits, per federal data. In certain states, such as New Mexico, dependence on SNAP reaches one-fifth of the population.
Internal communications seen by Reuters indicated that USDA officials would not access emergency reserves to cover next month's assistance.
Political Stalemate
Lawmakers from both parties remain deadlocked over how to fund and reopen federal agencies.
Remarks from the head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggested that the White House had opportunities to take earlier action to avoid interruption in payments.
“Officials were able and expected to acted before now to be prepared to utilize available money,” the statement continued. “Instead, it may choose not to use them for potential political benefit” as conservative leaders work to push upper chamber Democrats to support legislation that would reopen the federal government.
States Prepare
State leaders from multiple regions declared states of emergency this week to make money available for hunger relief in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued during the upcoming period.
