As a result of the prolonged government shutdown, millions of Americans across the country are facing the risk of losing food stamp benefits provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. In a message from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, the agency announced that “there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
While attending the National FFA Convention, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins spoke to the media, saying the USDA does not have the $9.2 billion needed to fund November benefits.
“You’ve got about 42 million people that, starting tomorrow, are not going to receive their food stamps,” Rollins said. “Of those 42 million, there are probably some who are going to be okay, but there is a significant number who are most vulnerable and rely on this benefit to feed their families. So we’re continuing to work with governors—some have stepped into the gap, others say they can—but the USDA does not have the money to continue the program.”
Rollins added that tapping into an emergency fund to keep the program running would only provide a short-term solution.
“There’s been a lot of discussion,” she said. “USDA does have an emergency fund, but it doesn’t come close to covering the $9.2 billion—and legally, we don’t even think we can tap it according to the statute. And even if we could, we’d be back at the same conversation in two weeks when it runs out again.”
According to data from the USDA and the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.8 percent of Illinois residents are currently enrolled in SNAP.
Rollins addresses SNAP during a press event:
