Lawmakers are sounding the alarm as millions of families across the nation are at risk of losing benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when it stalls next month as the government shutdown continues for the 24th day.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which funds SNAP, has informed states about the insufficient funds for food assistance to continue in November.
More than 200 House Democrats on Friday urged the USDA to use available contingency funds to cover November payments.
“There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November,” the letter states. “Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people.”
The agency has about $5 billion in SNAP contingency funds, about 60 percent of the cost of a month of benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
NTD reached out to USDA seeking a statement on whether it would tap into the reserve funds, but did not receive an immediate response.
A USDA spokesperson previously called the risk to food assistance “an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans consider voting on a bill that would prevent Americans from losing access to food assistance.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a bill to reinstate SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
The Trump administration temporarily saved SNAP’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program by giving it a $300 million infusion of tariff revenue to keep running during the shutdown. But seven million Americans who receive WIC assistance will lose the support when funding in most states for the program also runs dry next month.
The main holdup for Democrats in the shutdown has been the extension of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have demanded the government reopen immediately or American families who depend on the program will go hungry.
Meanwhile, states have scrambled to keep food assistance flowing to SNAP recipients.
Officials in Louisiana and Vermont have pledged to keep food aid flowing to residents who depend on the program in their states despite the shutdown.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to provide food benefits to SNAP beneficiaries.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that he would deploy the National Guard to help food banks in the state amid the government shutdown, pledging to fast-track $80 million for food banks in nearly every county in the state.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
