🔗 Share this article Food Benefits Expected to End for Over 40 Million Throughout Continuing US Government Shutdown USDA officials announced on Saturday that nutrition assistance payments through a critical national support systems will not be distributed during the coming month because of the continuing federal government shutdown. Impasse Persists For Nearly Four Weeks The government shutdown had reached three and a half weeks as officials revealed the news, coming after demands from hundreds of Congressional Democrats urging agriculture officials to tap into emergency reserves to cover the upcoming nutrition payments. “The reality is, funds are depleted,” officials announced. “Currently, assistance will not be provided” beginning in November. Millions Affected Tens of millions of people depend on these food benefits, as reported by federal data. Some regions, like New Mexico, dependence on SNAP affects 21% of residents. Internal communications seen by Reuters showed that USDA officials chose not to tap contingency funding for the upcoming payments. Partisan Impasse Lawmakers from both parties are still at odds over how to finance and restart the federal government. Comments by the head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicated that the White House could have acted to take earlier action to ensure continuous assistance. “It could have, and should have acted earlier to make arrangements to utilize available money,” the remarks concluded. “Conversely, officials could opt out in an effort to gain political advantage” while GOP lawmakers attempt to push upper chamber Democrats to vote for a spending bill to restart the federal government. States Prepare State leaders from Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergency in recent days to make money available to combat potential hunger preparing for food benefits expiring in November.