Millions of Americans Are at Risk of Losing SNAP Benefits Next Month: What to Know

Millions of Americans are astatine consequence of losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits successful November if nan authorities shutdown continues.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed states successful a missive that astir “42 cardinal Americans” could suffer their SNAP benefits arsenic they task location will not beryllium capable backing to screen nan entirety of November. 

The programme "provides nutrient benefits to low-income families to supplement their market fund truthful they tin spend nan nutritious nutrient basal to wellness and well-being," according to nan USDA.

"If nan existent lapse successful appropriations continues, location will beryllium insufficient costs to salary afloat November SNAP benefits for astir 42 cardinal individuals crossed nan Nation," said nan USDA successful their missive signed by SNAP improvement head Sasha Gersten-Paal, per USA Today.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins besides echoed nan sentiments successful a post connected X, penning that owed to nan shutdown, “there are not capable costs to supply SNAP for 40 cardinal Americans travel Nov 1.”

She besides informed reporters of nan predicament astatine nan White House connected Thursday, Oct. 16, per CNN, saying, “so you’re talking astir millions and millions of susceptible families, of quiet families that are not going to person entree to these programs because of this shutdown.”

The concerns travel respective weeks aft nan U.S. government unopen down, erstwhile Congress came to a standstill connected passing a spending measure that would finance nan authorities beyond Tuesday, Sept. 30, amid disagreements connected really national backing should beryllium allocated.

President Donald Trump and legislature Republicans were incapable to alteration nan minds of Democrats, who held nan statement connected their demands for Obamacare taxation credits. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said astatine nan time, “Our position has been very clear: cancel nan cuts, little nan costs, prevention healthcare.”

However, nan GOP has many times dismissed those concerns, saying nan matter tin wait. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, “We tin person that conversation, but earlier we do: merchandise nan hostage, group nan American group free, support nan authorities unfastened and past let’s person a speech astir those premium taxation credits."

"I’m surely unfastened to that. I deliberation we each are," he added.

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Republican lawmakers and Rollins blamed nan Democrats for putting “their governmental schedule up of nutrient information for American families.”

However, Democrats reason that Republicans are to blasted for being unwilling to discuss a spending woody that includes Obamacare taxation credits, per CNN.

The shutdown began astatine 12:01 a.m. ET connected Wednesday, Oct. 1, and arsenic a consequence of it, nonessential national agencies that trust connected legislature backing person been put connected hold. Government labor who are deemed basal — for illustration TSA agents and aerial postulation controllers — person continued to work, though they won't get paid until nan authorities reopens.