42 Million Face Food Assistance Cuts Amid Shutdown

BELLFLOWER, California – Roughly 42 million people are at risk of losing critical food assistance next month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Thursday that the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will run out of money in two weeks.

Rollins expressed concern over the impact on vulnerable families, stating, “So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown.” She attributed the situation to Democrats, claiming they prioritize political agendas over the food security of American families.

However, Democrats counter that Republicans are to blame for not negotiating a spending deal that would extend funding for food assistance. This impasse has resulted in a stoppage of federal funding that began on October 1.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed states that without federal funding, they would not have enough money to pay full SNAP benefits for November. The agency has now advised states to delay payments until further notice.

As of May, about one in eight Americans rely on SNAP, which provides an average benefit of $188 per person each month. While SNAP has a contingency fund of about $6 billion, the estimated costs for November benefits are around $8 billion.

When asked if the USDA plans to issue at least partial benefit payments, a senior official indicated that Rollins’ earlier comments suggested funding would soon be exhausted.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the Trump administration for hindering states’ ability to distribute monthly benefits. “This is a deliberate and unprecedented decision intended to inflict pain on millions of hardworking American families,” she stated. Hochul urged the federal government to prioritize funding for the vital program.

The food stamp program is not the only nutrition assistance program at risk. The prolonged standoff in Congress over a spending package threatens various federal services, including those vital for food security.