Food Benefits Expected to Cease for 41 Million Amid Continuing US Government Shutdown
The United States Department of Agriculture declared on Saturday that nutrition assistance payments under one of the country’s largest welfare initiatives will not be distributed next month because of the continuing federal government shutdown.
Closure Continues For Nearly Four Weeks
The funding lapse was in three and a half weeks as officials revealed the news, coming after appeals by more than two hundred Democratic representatives urging the USDA to access reserve accounts to fund November's food assistance.
“The reality is, the well has run dry,” the USDA stated. “Currently, no payments will be distributed” on 1 November.
Widespread Impact
Over 40 million Americans depend on the regular assistance, as reported by official statistics. Various areas, including one southwestern state, use of this assistance is as high as a significant portion of citizens.
Documents reviewed by Reuters showed that federal authorities chose not to tap reserve funds to cover next month's assistance.
Partisan Impasse
Republicans and Democrats are still at odds over how to fund and reopen the federal government.
A statement from the director at a prominent policy organization suggested that the White House had opportunities to take earlier action to avoid interruption in payments.
“Officials were able and expected to made moves earlier to be prepared to access these resources,” the remarks concluded. “Rather, it may choose not to use them for potential political benefit” as Republicans seek to influence Democratic senators to approve a spending bill to restart the federal government.
Emergency Measures
State leaders from Louisiana and Virginia issued emergency declarations recently to free up resources to address food insecurity in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued in November.
