Amid the prolonged federal government shutdown, the issue of delays in the payment of SNAP (food stamps), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income households, is rapidly emerging as a new point of contention.
With the possibility of delays in the November food stamp payments due to the government shutdown growing, Republicans and Democrats are engaging in a blame game, each highlighting responsibility.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requested that some states, including New York and New Jersey, withhold food stamp payments for November, arguing that “if the federal government shutdown continues, there will be a shortage of funds to pay out the November SNAP program subsidies.” (Reported on page A1 of the October 21st edition of this newspaper) November, which includes Thanksgiving, is traditionally a time of high grocery shopping, and low-income households who rely on food stamps could be hit hard if the subsidies are delayed.
About 42 million people across the United States receive food stamp assistance each month, including about 3 million in New York State and 800,000 in New Jersey. The SNAP program operates by distributing funds from the federal government to each state, so it can only be restored once the federal government shutdown is resolved.
Against this backdrop, the ruling Republican Party is highlighting the food stamp suspension crisis as a means of resolving the federal government shutdown.
Republicans are pressuring the Democratic Party, claiming that their opposition to the interim budget bill is exacerbating the food crisis for low-income families, while Democrats counter that the Republican Party has been working to cut low-income assistance programs and is using the American people’s crisis as a political tool.
Amidst this intensifying debate, the Federal Farm Bureau has not clearly stated whether it will use the $5-6 billion reserve fund earmarked for November food stamp payments. While the reserve fund is insufficient to cover the full November food stamp payments, which would require approximately $8 billion, partial payments are possible. Some in the political world are suggesting that the food stamp suspension crisis must be overcome for now.
Republican Senator Josh Hooley (D-Missouri) has introduced a bill to maintain full funding for SNAP during the shutdown. However, with the two parties remaining deadlocked, passage is uncertain. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has stated that if the bill passes the Senate and moves to the House, he will bring it up for a full vote.
“If the Senate passes the bill, the House will take up the issue,” Johnson said. “Over 42 million Americans rely on food stamps and using this as a political tool is unacceptable.”