42 Million Face Food Aid Cuts Amid Federal Shutdown

Washington, D.C. — Roughly 42 million Americans are at risk of losing essential food assistance in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated on Thursday that the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will run out of funds in two weeks.

“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,” Rollins told reporters at the White House.

The Trump administration, including Rollins, has blamed Democrats for blocking a resolution, arguing they prioritize political agendas over food security for American families. However, Democrats counter that Republicans are unwilling to negotiate on a spending deal that supports SNAP.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed states that if the federal funding lapse continues, they will lack enough money to distribute full food stamp benefits in November. The agency has urged states to delay benefit payments until further notice.

Currently, about one in eight Americans rely on SNAP for food assistance, with enrollees receiving an average monthly benefit of $188 per person as of May. Although SNAP has a contingency fund of roughly $6 billion, officials anticipate that November benefits will reach about $8 billion.

A senior agency official referred back to Rollins’ earlier comments regarding the impending depletion of funds when asked about potential partial benefit payments next month.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the Trump administration’s decision to compel states to pause benefit distribution. “This is a deliberate and unprecedented decision intended to inflict pain on millions of hardworking American families,” Hochul said in a statement on Friday. “The federal government should instead do everything in its power to prioritize our most vulnerable and make funding available for this critical program.”

The food stamp program is not alone in its funding crisis, as it is the second aid program facing shortages amid the deadlock in Congress over a federal spending package for the current fiscal year. This standoff has led to the federal government shutting down since October 1.