SNAP Benefits at Risk as USDA Declines to Release Emergency Funds During Shutdown
Table of Contents
Federal food assistance benefits for millions of Americans are in jeopardy after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will not utilize contingency funds to maintain SNAP payments during the current government shutdown, leaving approximately 40 million people potentially without aid. The decision, made after the administration determined the funds are reserved for disaster situations, has sparked outrage from advocates who argue the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to prevent a disruption in benefits.
Urgent Plea from Hunger Advocates
On Monday, Gina Plata-Niño, interim director for SNAP at the Food Research & Action Center, directly urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to exercise her authority and release federal food aid “regardless of what’s going on with the shutdown.” Plata-Niño appeared on “CBS Mornings Plus” to express the gravity of the situation, stating it is “incredibly serious.”
“The people relying on this benefit are our most vulnerable,” Plata-Niño explained. “For the most part they’re making less than $1,000 a month. This means that they may not be able to pay their rent, they may not be able to pay childcare, they may not be able to have food on the table for their children when they come home. And this will set them back.”
Who is Affected?
The potential cuts to SNAP benefits will disproportionately impact individuals already struggling financially. Plata-Niño emphasized that those relying on SNAP are often “living paycheck to paycheck,” including veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities. For many recipients, SNAP isn’t a supplement to their income, but rather their “sole food budget.” One in eight Americans currently depend on SNAP benefits.
Past Precedent & Current Stance
During the extended 34-day government shutdown from 2018-2019, the administration successfully utilized appropriated funding to proactively issue benefits, mitigating the impact on recipients. However, the USDA has stated it will not repeat this action this time, citing restrictions on the use of emergency funds.
Plata-Niño countered this argument, asserting that “the Nutrition Act is clear — the secretary has the authority, has the contingency fund that Congress gives her to be able to utilize it at such a time as this, which is the entitlement program so that benefits could be funded and not delayed.” She concluded by stating, “This is a man-made disaster that could be easily avoided.”
The first round of impacted benefits are scheduled to not be distributed on November 1st.
