The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out Nov. 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide as the government shutdown drags on.
The new notice follows the Trump administration's decision not to use about $5 billion in contingency funds, which would have kept the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) running into November. This program assists roughly 1 in 8 Americans in purchasing groceries.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA notice states. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”
The ongoing shutdown, which began October 1, is now the second-longest on record. While the Republican administration previously made arrangements to ensure SNAP benefits were paid this month, the imminent cutoff impacts a broader range of Americans, including those most vulnerable, unless a political deal is struck soon.
The administration has blamed Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats argue they will not agree to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate on extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans maintain that Democrats must agree to reopen the government first.
Democratic lawmakers have urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to tap into contingency funds to cover the majority of next month’s benefits. However, a USDA memo indicates that these funds are only available for situations such as disaster relief.
The memo also notes that due to the ongoing hurricane season, particularly with the recent strengthening of Hurricane Melissa, it's vital to keep those funds separate for disaster management.
States are reacting to the potential loss of food aid, with some vowing to maintain SNAP payments despite a federal halt, though it's unclear if this is permissible under federal guidelines. Meanwhile, states like Arkansas and Oklahoma are advising SNAP recipients to prepare for the worst by identifying local food assistance resources.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has claimed that a quick resolution could be reached if Republicans agree to negotiate, which could avert a crisis in the food stamp program.
