Shutdown Threatens SNAP Benefits for 42 Million US Recipients

Amid the federal government shutdown, millions of Americans face a halt in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, with states and lawmakers urgently calling on the Trump administration to release contingency funds to prevent this disruption. Michigan Democratic senators and state lawmakers have urged immediate action to restore SNAP payments, highlighting the impact on approximately 1.4 million residents and proposing state-level emergency funding. Similarly, Maine legislators warned that over 12% of their population, including 20% of children, would suffer without these benefits, which also support local economies. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Trump administration have stated that using roughly $5 billion in USDA contingency funds to cover SNAP is not legally permitted, citing potential impacts on other programs like school meals and infant formula. This withdrawal from previously indicated support has prompted lawsuits from multiple states demanding the USDA deploy emergency funds. While some private companies have stepped in to assist SNAP recipients, the political stalemate continues to jeopardize food security for millions during a critical period.