The Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a warning on its website, targeting Senate Democrats regarding upcoming food assistance payments.
Beginning November 1, it’s expected that over 40 million low-income individuals could lose their benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The USDA has indicated that they might withhold between $5 billion to $6 billion in SNAP emergency funds if the current government shutdown drags into next month.
The advisory frankly states, “The well has run dry. At this time, there are no benefits to be issued on November 1.” It continued on to assert that Senate Democrats are “approaching an inflection point” with the shutdown entering its 26th day.
The advisory also noted, “[Senate Democrats] can choose to continue to provide medical care and sexual mutilation for undocumented immigrants, or they can reopen the government to make sure mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us receive essential nutritional assistance.”
Meanwhile, the shutdown persists as Senate Democrats are pushing to make subsidies from the Affordable Care Act permanent. The expiration of this credit at the year’s end is projected to raise costs for millions, a situation that’s already noticeable in various states.
Numerous states have alerted residents that SNAP benefits may soon run dry for November. While the federal government shares the financial burden of administering the program, states operate their own variations of it.
SNAP funds are replenished to states on a monthly basis, with roughly $8 billion set to be disbursed next month. A memo highlighted that contingency funds are designated solely for unexpected situations, like natural disasters.
On Friday, after the USDA announced its funding threat, Congressional Democrats criticized the administration. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York labeled the actions of the Trump administration as “an abhorrent dereliction of duty” affecting 42 million children, seniors, and veterans.
In response, Republican Rep. Marionette Miller-Meeks of Iowa introduced a bill aimed at financing the SNAP program through the government shutdown, while Sen. Josh Hawley from Missouri plans to propose a similar bill in the Senate soon.
