The Trump administration has announced it will utilize emergency funding to provide partial food stamp benefits to more than 42 million Americans. This decision comes as the prolonged government shutdown continues with no immediate resolution in sight, impacting essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), commonly known as food stamps.
In a court filing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated that recipients would receive only half of their usual monthly allotment. This move follows judicial orders from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which mandated the USDA to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to ensure at least partial payments to Snap beneficiaries. Snap, which typically costs around $8 billion per month, has been in a precarious financial position due to the shutdown that began on October 1st, leaving federal funding uncertain.
States, which administer the benefits locally, are expected to receive guidance on the distribution of these reduced funds by the end of Monday. The administration’s previous decision to halt funding from November 1st, with the USDA stating “the well has run dry,” had prompted lawsuits from half of the U.S. states and the District of Columbia, arguing for the program’s continued operation. Several states had indicated their intention to use their own funds to cover Snap benefits temporarily.
Snap is a vital program that helps low-income Americans purchase groceries, providing them with reloadable debit cards for food purchases. On average, a family of four receives about $715 monthly, translating to just under $6 per person per day. The uncertainty surrounding these benefits highlights the significant impact of the government shutdown on millions of vulnerable citizens.
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