The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that roughly 42 million Americans could lose access to federal food assistance beginning November 1 if the current government shutdown is not resolved, as reported by Fox News.
The department says it lacks the authority to redirect funding to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments without congressional approval.
According to an internal USDA memo obtained by Fox News Digital, the ongoing impasse in Congress has halted funding for SNAP, commonly known as food stamps.
“Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come November 1st,” the memo said.
“This jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those that have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed Federal employees who will not receive their combined October/November benefits.”
Democrats have urged the Trump administration to tap into the agency’s SNAP contingency fund, which they estimate contains about $5 billion, to continue distributing benefits. However, USDA officials say that fund cannot legally be used for regular benefits.
“SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits,” the memo stated.
“The contingency fund is not available to support [fiscal year 2026] regular benefits because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.”
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The department said the contingency fund is reserved for emergencies such as the Disaster SNAP program, which provides food assistance to families affected by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.
USDA officials also rejected proposals to transfer funding from other nutrition programs, warning that doing so would hurt vulnerable Americans.
“Transfers from other sources would pull away funding for school meals and infant formula,” the memo read.
“This Administration will not allow Democrats to jeopardize funding for school meals and infant formula in order to prolong their shutdown.”
On Monday, the USDA updated its website with a statement blaming Senate Democrats for stalling funding for SNAP.
“Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” the statement read.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
The statement added that Democrats must choose between “holding out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopening the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
In response, nearly all House Democrats signed a letter to USDA on Friday, arguing that the contingency fund was designed for precisely this situation. “We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance,” the letter said.
Impact of Government Lapse on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The standoff continues as Senate Democrats refuse to advance the House-passed continuing resolution from September 19, which would have temporarily extended fiscal year 2025 funding.
Democrats are demanding that any agreement also include an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at year’s end.
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