42 Million People at Risk of Losing Their Food Benefits in Days Amid Shutdown

"More than 42 million low-income Americans are at risk of losing food assistance Nov. 1 if the government shutdown continues. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which operates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has about $6 billion in a multi-year contingency fund. That's short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program. Even if a shutdown deal were reached immediately, the time needed to process the payments and make them available for recipients means benefits would likely be delayed."

"The shortfall is caused by the shutdown, which hit its 22nd day Wednesday. The fund is supposed to maintain a balance of about $9 billion, but $3 billion of the funds expired at the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30. Because Congress has not approved the next year's funding, the fund only has $6 billion. USDA would have to come up with the remaining $3 billion. The department could try something similar to its shuffle of more than $300 million in tariff revenue into its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, through the rest of the month."

More than 42 million low-income Americans face potential loss of SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 if the government shutdown continues. USDA's SNAP contingency fund currently holds about $6 billion, while roughly $9 billion is needed to cover a full month of benefits, creating an approximately $3 billion shortfall. Even if funding is approved immediately, administrative processing will likely delay distribution of payments. The shortfall resulted from $3 billion in contingency funds expiring at the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30 and a lack of congressional approval for the new fiscal year. USDA could seek internal revenue shifts to cover gaps, but plans are unclear.

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