Food assistance for over 40 million Americans will cease in November due to the ongoing US government shutdown, as the Trump administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) refuse to use a contingency fund, leading to harsh criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
WASHINGTON D.C.—The ongoing US government shutdown is set to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for more than 40 million Americans starting in November, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced, blaming the Senate for the impasse.
The USDA’s notice stated plainly: “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” SNAP, used by one in every eight Americans, is a vital lifeline, with a family of four typically receiving an average of $715 per month.
The crisis was intensified after the Trump administration declined to draw on a SNAP contingency fund, arguing the money was reserved for “true emergencies,” such as natural disasters. This refusal drew fierce condemnation from Democrats. “This is perhaps the most cruel and unlawful offence the Trump administration has perpetrated yet,” Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Angie Craig said in a joint statement, also criticizing the President for spending on a new White House ballroom during the shutdown.
Democratic House members have urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to release the reserves, noting that Congress provides the fund “precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits.”
With the federal government warning states they will not be reimbursed, several—including Massachusetts, where one million people are expected to lose benefits—have admitted they lack the funds to cover the shortfall. Other states, like California, are deploying the National Guard to distribute food as the shutdown entered its 26th day, becoming the second-longest in US history.