Several states are trying different strategies to address the funding lapse in food benefits distributed under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown.
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Texas are among the three dozen states that have issued dire warnings about the shutdown’s effect on SNAP benefits for November. At least 25 states plan to pause food stamps next month because of the lack of federal funding.
The state warnings come after the Department of Agriculture said in an Oct. 10 letter to state agencies that there will be “insufficient funds” for November SNAP benefits if the funding lapse continues.
The prolonged shutdown is expected to take a toll on SNAP, a program in which more than 40 million Americans are enrolled nationwide. Nov. 1 is next Saturday.
To address the issue, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) announced on Thursday that he is declaring a state of emergency to address food insecurity that will affect more than 850,000 Virginians.
Other governors are taking similar action. This week, Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) requested Colorado lawmakers to approve up to $10 million in emergency food bank support for the period in which SNAP benefits might not be available. In Hawaii, Democratic Gov. Josh Green authorized a $100 million contingency fund to support SNAP beneficiaries.
Also, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) deployed the California National Guard to help distribute groceries and expedited $80 million in state funds to alleviate the pressure on food banks.
Both Republicans and Democrats are blaming the other for letting the 23-day shutdown persist, imperiling the federal program that distributes food to low-income families.
The White House urges Democrats to vote in favor of the House GOP’s clean continuing resolution, which would partially fund the federal government through Nov. 21.
“Democrats are solely responsible for all of this unnecessary pain,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN ‘HALF THE STATES’ SET TO LOSE FOOD AID BENEFITS DUE TO SHUTDOWN
The Senate rejected the stopgap funding measure for the 12th time on Wednesday due to Democratic opposition. Senate Democrats also blocked a bill to pay essential federal workers during the shutdown on Thursday. The next vote is expected to be held on Thursday afternoon.
Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and John Fetterman (D-PA) are among the lawmakers calling on their Democratic colleagues to reopen the government. Fetterman is one of the few Democrats who have consistently joined the GOP in supporting the House Republicans’ funding bill.
