Food assistance for about 42 million Americans is at risk on 1 November as the federal government shutdown reaches its 27th day, with the US Department of Agriculture saying funding for November benefits has run dry.
Twenty-five Democratic governors and attorneys general filed an emergency lawsuit Tuesday demanding the Trump administration release $9.2 billion in food stamp benefits for November, warning that 42 million Americans will lose SNAP assistance starting November 1 if the government shutdown continues.
The USDA says it won't tap its $5 billion contingency fund to cover the benefits, instead reserving it for natural disasters. The agency's website now simply states "the well has run dry" and "there will be no benefits issued November 01".
About 42 million people receive money through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes called food stamps. The US Agriculture Department told states in an Oct. 10 letter that if the shutdown continues, the program will run out of money to pay for benefits in November.
Participants receive an average individual monthly benefit of about $190, or $356 per household. The majority of SNAP households live in poverty.
An emergency hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts, as part of the lawsuit over whether courts can order the executive branch to spend money Congress hasn't appropriated during a shutdown.
California, as well as 30 other states, have said they cannot backfill the federal government's cuts. 25 states, including California, are suing the federal government for the abrupt shut-off of SNAP benefits.
Food banks and pantries across the country are bracing for a surge in demand, while state agencies warn they cannot replace the scale of federal support on their own.
Three paths could change the outcome before 1 November: - Congress ends the shutdown and restores appropriations - A court orders the USDA to use contingency funds - The administration uses transfer authority or other Agriculture Department funds
The Trump administration could use SNAP's contingency fund to pay for nearly two-thirds of a full month of benefits, or it could transfer other Agriculture Department funds, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
If none of those happen, the timing will still vary by state, because the monthly date when people receive their benefits varies by state.
Will SNAP benefits definitely stop on 1 November? Not necessarily for everyone at once. Benefits are at risk from 1 November if the shutdown continues, but timing varies by state and court action could change the outcome.
How many people use SNAP? About 42 million Americans, including millions of children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Can food banks replace SNAP? No — food banks say they cannot replace the scale of federal benefits, though they are preparing for a surge in demand.
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