As the government shutdown persists, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are at risk in states across the country.
SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, are funded by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The federal government shares the cost of administering the program with states, while states operate their own programs.
Funding is sent to states monthly, so October benefits were not impacted. However, as the government shutdown hit 23 days Thursday, November benefits are in jeopardy.
States such as Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New Jersey have warned that if the shutdown persists, SNAP recipients will lose access to benefits starting Nov. 1.
This shouldn’t be a thing. This should be budgeted for so inevitably when this happens again things don’t grind to a halt.
That’s a bold statement.
Until we start guaranteeing eachother the basic means of survival as if they were rights SNAP and similar social services will always be hostage to those that want to wield the national budget like a cudgel.