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Federal funds helping millions of people could start running out on Saturday Americans If they buy food for their families and send their kids to preschool Congress Unless the US government reaches an agreement to end the shutdown.
Another program that helps mothers care for their newborns could lose funding next week.
Barring a solution to the shutdown, there will be a huge gap in America’s safety net, especially for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps one in eight Americans afford groceries. Benefits under the program called SNAP will stop Saturday.
Funding for Head Start preschool programs for women, infants and children and a group of special supplemental nutrition programs known as WIC also could soon end.
Here’s what will happen with each event.
Millions of people won’t get money for food because of SNAP benefits
Low-income families who qualify for SNAP are provided by the federal government with debit cards loaded each month to be used only to purchase groceries at participating stores and farmers markets. Debit cards are recharged slightly differently in each state. Not everyone receives their benefits on the first day of the month, although many beneficiaries receive it early in the month.
The average monthly benefit per person is $187. Most beneficiaries have incomes at or below the poverty level.
There is also uncertainty about whether the benefits left on the card can be used on November 1. Arkansas officials suggest that people who have a balance on their card should use the funds on shelf-stable foods this month. Officials in Missouri and Pennsylvania expect past benefits to remain accessible and are telling beneficiaries to save for November if possible.
President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected the idea of using about $5 billion in contingency funds to provide federal cash for food, saying the reserve is limited to expenses such as aid after disasters.
The decision contrasts with a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture late last month that said a contingency fund could cover SNAP benefits if government funding ends.
Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have urged the Trump administration to use that fund to provide partial benefits in November.
Some states want to make up for SNAP benefits cut shortfall
Officials in Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia have pledged to complete food aid to recipients even if the shutdown halted the federal program, though state-level details have not been announced.
In Republican-led Louisiana, the House has voted unanimously for a resolution urging the state health department to use $150 million in its budget to avoid interruptions in SNAP benefits to about 800,000 residents. The measure is awaiting Senate action, and Republican Governor Jeff Landry has said it is a top priority.
More money is planned for food banks and pantries in New Hampshire, Minnesota, California, New Mexico, Connecticut and other states. new yorkWhere Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul said Monday she is “fast tracking” $30 million in emergency food assistance funding to help keep food pantries stocked.
Officials in some other states have said they considered replenishing SNAP benefits with state funds, but found they could not do so because states have no way to load the funds onto recipients’ cards.
Democratic government. Gavin Newsom California deployed the National Guard to help its state’s food banks, although some have declined to use troops. He’s quickly making $80 million available for food banks.
The USDA advised Friday that states will not be reimbursed for funding the benefits.
The Trump administration is blaming Democrats, who say they will not agree to reopen the government unless Republicans negotiate with them on extending subsidies that are expiring under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans say Democrats must agree to reopen the government before negotiations can begin.
early childhood education
According to the National Head Start Association, more than 130 Head Start preschool programs will not receive their annual federal grants on Nov. 1 if the government remains shut down.
The centers are struggling to assess how long they can stay open, since almost all of their funding comes from federal taxpayers. Head Start provides education and child care to the nation’s neediest preschoolers. When a center closes, families may have to miss work or school.
With the freeze on new grants, a half-dozen Head Start programs have already missed the federal disbursements they were expecting on Oct. 1, but have remained open with rapidly depleting reserves or with the help of local governments. Overall, more than 65,000 seats in Head Start programs nationwide may be affected.
Food aid for mothers and young children
Another food aid program supporting millions of low-income mothers and young children has already received a boost to keep the program running through the end of October, but that money is also set to run out early next month.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents afford nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula.
The program, known as WIC, was in danger of running out of money due to the government shutdown in October, which occurred just before it was scheduled to receive its annual appropriation. The Trump administration reallocated $300 million in unused tariff revenue from the Department of Agriculture to keep the program running. But it was only enough money for a few weeks.
Now, states say they could run out of WIC money by November 8.
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Mattis reported from Nashville, Tennessee. AP contributors include Moriah Balingit in Portland, Oregon; Geoff Mulvihill in Haddonfield, New Jersey; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York; Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Sarah Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California.