SNAP Payments Scheduled to Expire for 41 Million During Ongoing Government Closure
Federal agriculture authorities declared on Saturday that nutrition assistance payments through a critical national support systems will not be distributed next month because of the continuing federal closure.
Impasse Persists Through Its Third Week
The funding lapse had reached its 25th day as officials revealed the news, coming after demands from hundreds of Congressional Democrats pushing the USDA to tap into contingency funds to fund November's food assistance.
“The reality is, the well has run dry,” officials announced. “Now, assistance will not be provided” on 1 November.
National Consequences
More than 41 million individuals count on these monthly payments, according to federal data. In certain states, such as New Mexico, use of the program is as high as one-fifth of the population.
Internal communications seen by journalists revealed that USDA officials chose not to tap contingency funding to cover next month's assistance.
Political Stalemate
Congressional leaders remain deadlocked regarding how to fund and reopen the federal government.
Remarks from the head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggested that federal leadership had chances to take earlier action to avoid interruption in payments.
“It could have, and should have acted before now to be prepared to use these funds,” the remarks concluded. “Rather, it may choose not to use them for potential political benefit” as Republicans seek to influence Democratic senators to support a spending bill that would reopen government operations.
Local Responses
State leaders from Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergency in recent days to allocate funds to combat potential hunger preparing for SNAP benefits not being issued in November.
