Food banks brace for 42 million without SNAP
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A box of produce to be given to furloughed federal workers at a Capital Area Food Bank distribution site in Alexandria, Virginia, on Oct. 24. Photor: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Food banks are already seeing a surge as tens of millions of families prepare for their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to freeze.
The big picture: The federal government shutdown will stop food aid Nov. 1 for some 42 million Americans, the latest blow for low-income families already struggling with rising costs and shrinking federal benefits.
- When SNAP benefits run out this week, food banks say they will face a demand they can't possibly meet alone. The gap was already set to be exacerbated by sweeping SNAP eligibility changes in the administration's tax and spending bill, including expanded work requirements.
- Food banks were already strained by other federal program cuts.
- "We were already seeing the working class facing unprecedented attacks," said George Matysik, the executive director of Philadelphia-based Share Food Program. "...What the shutdown is doing is it's just, instead of throwing water on the fire, it's throwing gasoline on it."
Driving the news: The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states it would not provide November's SNAP payments. That means some 42 million people could go without aid and face a potential hunger crisis.
- The USDA has contingency reserves that could help cover November benefits, Democrats and groups like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have argued.
- But in a memo obtained by Axios' Marc Caputo, the department said it could not use those funds to cover FY 2026 regular benefits.
- That was an apparent departure from its Sept. 30 shutdown plan (which has since been taken down) that stated, "Congressional intent is evident that SNAP's operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds."
State of play: Dozens of states have issued warnings that November benefits will not be distributed.
- A few state leaders, like Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, have authorized other streams of aid. But workarounds are only temporary fixes.
What they're saying: Karen Ehrens, the Alliance to End Hunger's U.S. policy manager, told Axios USDA's decision was "hard to understand."
- She added, "it's very frustrating that the government ... would consider jeopardizing 42 million people's access to food at such short notice."
- CBPP President Sharon Parrott argued the administration is "legally required" to tap into those contingency reserves, saying it "could have, and should have, taken steps weeks ago" to prepare.
Friction point: USDA posted on its website that the "well has run dry," blaming Democrats for holding "out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures."
- Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid coverage.
- A senior White House official said in a statement to Axios the "administration's hands are now tied due to the radical Democrat shutdown."
- "We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats," a USDA spokesperson said in a statement. "Continue to hold out for the Far-Left wing of the party or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments."
Reality check: For every one meal that the nation's Feeding America food bank network provides, SNAP provides nine, the organization said.
Zoom in: Matysik told Axios, "The reality is that every elected official in Washington shares some of the blame of what they are doing to the working class right now."
- He said food pantries in his network have already seen spikes in new sign-ups, up to 12 times more than what they typically experience.
- In past moments of need, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said there were bipartisan efforts to fight food insecurity.
- But today, he said, "it's like the horror movie where the call is coming from within the house: Our own federal government is choosing to do this."
Zoom out: Some companies are stepping up to support an overstretched food assistance network.
- DoorDash announced an emergency response to the funding cliff, waiving merchant fees for partner food banks, pantries and community groups.
Threat level: The pain of food costs could coincide with Affordable Care Act premiums soaring for millions with the expiration of enhanced tax credits.
- Extending those credits has been Democrats' key sticking point during the lapse.
What we're watching: To further aggravate that strain, food banks typically see extra demand during the holiday season.
Go deeper: State websites blame Republicans for food stamp cuts as shutdown drags on
