Nutrition Assistance Scheduled to Cease for Tens of Millions Throughout Continuing Federal Shutdown
USDA officials stated recently that monthly food benefits from a major federal support systems will not be distributed in November because of the continuing federal closure.
Impasse Persists Into 25th Day
The funding lapse lasted nearly a month as officials revealed the news, in response to appeals by more than two hundred House Democrats pushing the USDA to tap into emergency reserves to fund next month's benefits.
“The reality is, resources are exhausted,” the USDA stated. “At this time, no payments will be distributed” starting next month.
National Consequences
Tens of millions of people depend on these monthly payments, per official statistics. Some regions, including one southwestern state, use of the program is as high as 21% of residents.
A memo obtained by Reuters revealed that the department would not access reserve funds for the upcoming payments.
Political Stalemate
Lawmakers from both parties are still at odds regarding how to finance and restart the federal government.
Comments by the head of a prominent policy organization indicated that the White House could have acted to prepare in advance to avoid interruption in payments.
“Officials were able and expected to taken steps earlier to get ready to use these funds,” the comments added. “Instead, officials could opt out to secure political leverage” as Republicans seek to influence Democratic senators to support a funding package to restart government operations.
Local Responses
Executives in two affected states declared states of emergency this week to allocate funds to address food insecurity in anticipation of nutrition assistance payments stopping in November.
