As the federal government shutdown extends into late October, a major threat looms over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often referred to as food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned states that funding may be insufficient to cover full SNAP benefits for November if the lapse in federal appropriations is not resolved.
The potential lapse in funding would affect approximately 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to purchase food. These benefits, which are entirely federally funded, average around $188 per person per month.
In mid-October, the USDA instructed state agencies responsible for administering the program to hold their electronic issuance files and delay transmission to EBT vendors. This unprecedented directive prevents the states from loading the November benefit funds onto recipients' cards as scheduled.
