SNAP Crisis Deepens: How US Federal Shutdown is going to leave millions of Americans hungry | Business
In a few days, millions of American families could find their cupboards bare. As the government shutdown drags on, food stamp payments are set to stop from 1 November, cutting off a vital lifeline for 42 million people and exposing how close hunger lies beneath the surface of the world’s richest nation.
The big picture
More than 42 million Americans rely on food stamps, monthly payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP), to help them afford groceries. Those benefits are due to stop on 1 November if the ongoing US government shutdown continues, raising fears of widespread hunger and economic disruption.
Driving the news
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that it will run out of money to fund SNAP next month, saying in a memo: “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.” The USDA said that “the well has run dry” and that contingency funds cannot legally be used for regular SNAP payments, as they are reserved for disaster relief. This means about $8 billion in monthly food aid will suddenly stop, affecting one in eight Americans.
Why it matters
SNAP is often the last line of defence against hunger. For many families, it is not just a supplement but the main source of money for food. With bills, rent and prices already high, millions could be forced to choose between paying for essentials and putting meals on the table.In Maine, single mother Kasey McBlais said she plans to delay paying her electricity and credit card bills to ensure her children can eat: “My children won’t go hungry, but we’ll have to choose which bills can wait.”In Massachusetts, mother of four Sharlene Sutton, who recently left work to care for her epileptic child, said: “I’m not worried about myself, it’s about the kids. Where am I going to get food from?”
The local response
Some states, including Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia, have pledged to continue SNAP payments temporarily. New York has promised $30 million in emergency food aid and additional support for food banks.However, the USDA has warned that states will not be reimbursed, raising doubts about how long these measures can continue.
Food banks under strain
Charities say they cannot replace the federal programme. “The charitable food system doesn’t have the resources to replace all those food dollars,” said John Sayles, head of the Vermont Foodbank. Food banks in states such as New Mexico are already seeing “panic” among residents. The Roadrunner Food Bank, which serves 83,000 households each week, expects demand to surge. Even before this crisis, food banks were under pressure from rising prices and funding cuts, including the cancellation of a $420 million federal programme that helped them buy food directly from local farmers.The economic ripple effectSNAP payments also support local economies. Experts estimate that each dollar in food aid generates about $1.60 in local spending, helping sustain small grocers, rural shops and local producers. “SNAP is the foundation of economic support for many food retailers,” said Kate Bauer of the University of Michigan. “The impact will ripple far beyond the households receiving aid.”Who’s most vulnerable? Roughly two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, older adults or people with disabilities, according to the Centre on Budget and Policy Priorities. For families living from one paycheque to the next, even a short disruption could have immediate and painful consequencesBottom line:If Washington fails to end the shutdown, America’s most vulnerable families could go hungry within days. The effects will reach far beyond the dinner table.
