USDA officials declared this past weekend that monthly food benefits from a major federal welfare initiatives are not going out next month amid the persistent federal closure.
The government shutdown was in three and a half weeks as officials revealed the news, which followed demands from hundreds of Democratic representatives pushing agriculture officials to access reserve accounts to fund the upcoming nutrition payments.
“The reality is, funds are depleted,” the department confirmed. “Currently, assistance will not be provided” beginning in November.
More than 41 million individuals depend on these monthly payments, per the USDA. Various areas, including New Mexico, dependence on this assistance reaches 21% of residents.
Internal communications seen by a major news agency showed that the department chose not to tap emergency reserves for November food benefits.
Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked regarding how to finance and restart government operations.
Remarks from the leader of a prominent policy organization noted that the White House had opportunities to act sooner to avoid interruption in payments.
“It could have, and should have made moves earlier to be prepared to utilize available money,” the statement continued. “Rather, it may choose not to use them to secure political leverage” as conservative leaders work to push upper chamber Democrats to support a spending bill that would reopen government operations.
Executives in Louisiana and Virginia issued emergency declarations recently to allocate funds to combat potential hunger preparing for SNAP benefits not being issued in November.
