The ongoing government shutdown has left more than 42 million low-income Americans facing possible loss of food assistance by November 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has just $6 billion in reserve—$3 billion short of the $9 billion needed for a full month’s benefits.
Even if lawmakers strike a deal soon, the delay in processing payments could postpone aid distribution. Nearly 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children, and about 20% are seniors, according to USDA data. States are preparing for potential disruptions; Tennessee and Wisconsin officials have warned residents that benefits could stop entirely if the shutdown continues.
On October 10, USDA instructed states to halt November benefit uploads to avoid processing errors while funding remains uncertain. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins cautioned that SNAP could exhaust its resources by month’s end without congressional action.
The funding gap stems from the lapse of $3 billion in contingency reserves at the end of the fiscal year. As federal agencies scramble to cover the shortfall, millions of families could see their primary food assistance abruptly end.
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