President Donald Trump has suggested his administration may find a way to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.
Speaking on board Air Force One during his trip to Asia, Trump told reporters “we’re going to get it done,” but offered no details on how it might happen.
Why It Matters
Around 42 million low- and no-income Americans collect SNAP benefits every month, which are uploaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards to be used in grocery stores.
SNAP, although a mandatory program, is funded through appropriations from the federal government. As these funds have not been made available due to the lack of agreement in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that benefits cannot be paid. The government shutdown has now reached its 29th day, running since since October 1.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” a notice from the USDA reads. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”
With the government shutdown firmly in its fourth week and SNAP beneficiaries threatening cannibalism (see below), Senate Republicans and Democrats are working behind the scenes on a proposal to reopen the government next week – with centrist Democrats arguing behind the scenes that their party has successfully highlighted soaring healthcare costs.
Democrats say the higher costs are now set in stone due to Republicans’ refusal to negotiate a deal to extend Biden-era subsidies that are set to expire – in yet another example of anything that’s supposed to be ‘temporary’ becoming a new goalpost (*cough gerrymandering cough*).
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/senate-gop-and-democrats-working-shutdown-ramp-next-week