The Trump administration has issued a dire warning that millions of Americans could lose access to federal food benefits within days if a resolution to the government shutdown is not reached. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stated that it cannot unilaterally allocate additional funds to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without congressional approval, leaving 42 million individuals at risk of losing their benefits starting November 1. The agency’s recent memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, underscores that the SNAP contingency fund, which Democrats have been urging the administration to use, is not legally available for regular monthly benefits.
Democrats have been pushing for the use of the contingency fund, which they claim contains about $5 billion, to cover at least some of the shortfall. However, the USDA has argued that the fund was never intended for regular benefits, which require monthly appropriations. Instead, the contingency fund is designed for emergency situations such as natural disasters, providing immediate assistance to affected individuals. This distinction has become a central point of contention, with Democrats claiming that the agency’s interpretation of the law is being used to avoid addressing the funding crisis for SNAP recipients.
The situation has been further complicated by a larger debate over the inclusion of Obamacare subsidies in the funding bill. Democrats have insisted that any federal funding bill must include an extension of these subsidies, which were enhanced during the pandemic and are set to expire at the end of the year. Republicans, on the other hand, have proposed a short-term extension of FY2025 federal funding through a continuing resolution (CR), but the Senate has stalled on its approval. With no resolution in sight, the potential loss of food benefits for millions of low-income Americans now hangs in the balance, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and low-income families.
The USDA has also emphasized its refusal to divert funds from other programs to cover the SNAP shortfall, warning that such actions would harm other essential services like school meals and infant formula programs. The agency has taken a firm stance, stating that it will not allow Democrats to jeopardize the funding for these critical programs in order to prolong the government shutdown. This has deepened the divide between the two parties, with Republicans accusing Democrats of using the crisis as a political tactic to push for their agenda. Meanwhile, Democrats have warned that without the inclusion of Obamacare subsidies, the government shutdown will continue, exacerbating the hardship for millions of Americans who rely on SNAP assistance.