If Shutdown Continues, SNAP Benefits Could Be Threatened Leaving Millions Of Americans Without Help To Buy Food
More than 19 million households in the United States receive food stamps, accounting for nearly 39 million people. The Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is one of the agencies that has not yet been funded by Congress. Although SNAP is automatically renewed, if the shutdown continues through March, there will be no remaining funding for the program.
CBS News:
SNAP Benefits And The Shutdown: Millions Could Face Severe Cuts To Food Stamps Due To Government Shutdown And USDA Underfunding
The partial government shutdown glided into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program — could have their assistance disrupted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, is one of the agencies unfunded during the partial government shutdown. Although SNAP is automatically renewed, it has not been allocated funding from Congress beyond January. Congress has appropriated $3 billion in emergency funds for SNAP distribution, but that would not cover all of February's obligations. (Segers, 1/6)
The New York Times:
Toll On Science And Research Mounts As Government Shutdown Continues
One of the first sessions of the American Meteorological Society’s annual conference in Phoenix this weekend seemed like just the sort to attract plenty of government scientists: “Building Resilience to Extreme Political Weather: Advice for Unpredictable Times.” But the conference, where more than 700 federal employees had been expected, will have few federal scientists in attendance. Many are barred from participating during the partial government shutdown, just one of the numerous consequences for the science community during the capital’s latest spending standoff. (Blinder, 1/5)
The Washington Post:
As Shutdown Drags On, Trump Officials Make New Offer, Seek Novel Ways To Cope With Its Impacts
Trump administration officials began taking extraordinary steps to contain the fallout from the partial federal government shutdown Sunday, as the budget impasse between the president and congressional Democrats showed no signs of nearing a breakthrough. As agencies sought to deal with cascading problems across the federal bureaucracy, acting White House budget director Russell T. Vought sent congressional leaders a letter detailing the administration’s latest offer to end the shutdown. (Costa, Eilperin, Paletta and Miroff, 1/6)