Now, the government shutdown touches SNAP even more directly. At a time when inflation rates and grocery prices are rapidly rising, this vital program continues to help nearly one in eight Americans feed their families. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just issued that very warning. With no deal in sight, they have said that they will stop sending food assistance benefits starting next month.
Yet the Trump administration has instead decided not to use the approximately $5 billion in contingency funds. These funds could have fully restored SNAP benefits during the duration of the shutdown. This decision has alarmed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who are calling Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reconsider the plan. Fortunately, democratic lawmakers aren’t letting up. They have filed official contingency requests to guarantee that SNAP recipients will receive their benefits without interruption this November.
The Impact of the Shutdown
The ongoing government shutdown that started on October 1 is already the second-longest recorded. States such as Arkansas and Oklahoma have already gone on the record. They are directing SNAP enrollees to contact local food pantries and nonprofit organizations to find needed resources. If this deadlock drags on, the repercussions will be much more than just SNAP. The effects would be felt by many Americans—but especially those Americans who are most vulnerable.
As diplomatic tensions escalate, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) recently blasted both Republicans and the Trump administration for refusing to compromise. He stated, “The reality is, if they sat down to try to negotiate, we could probably come up with something pretty quickly.” Murphy reiterated the urgency of breaking the stalemate as soon as possible. He told the Times, “We could reopen the government on Tuesday or Wednesday, and there wouldn’t be a crisis in the food stamp program.”
Political Stalemate
We know that the political environment is … charged. Democrats are holding the line, insisting on negotiations with Republicans to extend expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act before they will agree to reopen the government. Republicans believe that Democrats at least need to admit to and agree to reopen government operations before they would even be willing to talk.
We appreciate the USDA’s notice on the upcoming SNAP benefits as an indication of how dire the circumstances truly are. Relatedly, it cautioned, “Bottom line, the well’s run dry.” Without immediate action, millions of families will be plunged into food insecurity next month. The notice added, “As of right now, no benefits will be released November 1. We’re coming up on something of an inflection point for Senate Democrats.
Urgency for Resolution
SNAP benefits could be severely affected in a matter of weeks. It’s extremely important that this budgetary standoff is settled in the next few days. We’ve heard time and again that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of these benefits. Every day, millions of Americans count on them to provide their daily nourishment.
Amidst stalled negotiations, the call for bipartisan cooperation continues to be key. The consequences of continued inaction will be felt by those who depend on SNAP, making it essential for leaders to prioritize dialogue and find common ground.
