The Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website warning that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won’t be issued on Nov. 1.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” reads the notice, which also blames Democrats for the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at a stalemate on finding a government funding solution. The Senate has continued to fail to advance bill that would reopen the government until Nov. 21. The House remains out of session next week.
USDA says it won’t issue SNAP benefits on Nov. 1
The Department of Agriculture posted a notice on its website that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1 amid the government shutdown, saying “Bottom line, the well has run dry.”
SNAP, often referred to as “food stamps,” serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans.
SNAP has traditionally been entirely federally funded, but is administered by states. That means the shutdown’s impact on SNAP and when benefits will start to dry up will vary by state.
The message at the top of the USDA blames Democrats for the funding lapse, saying they “can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
Democrats have said they won’t vote for a continuing resolution to fund the government and end the shutdown until the Republican-controlled Congress agrees to extend the pandemic era Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Pentagon says it accepted $130M donation to help pay troops during shutdown
The Pentagon confirmed Friday it has accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help pay troops if the government shutdown continues — a bill expected to cost some $6.8 billion in total.
A statement from Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said the department on Thursday “accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority. The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits.”
There are about 2 million service members who risk going without a paycheck if the shutdown stretches on. Earlier this month, the Trump administration shifted money around in the Pentagon’s nearly $1 trillion budget to cover the troops’ payroll.President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters from the White House on Thursday, first revealed the $130 million donation saying it came from “a friend of mine” who didn’t want to be named.”That’s what I call a patriot,” Trump said.
The House will officially be out of session again next week amid the government shutdown — scrapping votes for the fifth week in a row. The lower chamber held its last vote on Sept. 19.
During the Friday afternoon pro forma session, the clerk read a message from the speaker of the House designating Monday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 2 as a “district work period.”
Speaker Mike Johnson has kept his chamber on a 48-hour notice return, meaning the House will be out unless there is Senate action to resolve the government shutdown.
