🔗 Share this article SNAP Payments Scheduled to Cease for Tens of Millions Throughout Ongoing Federal Shutdown The United States Department of Agriculture declared recently that nutrition assistance payments through a critical national support systems are not going out in November due to the ongoing government funding lapse. Impasse Persists Into 25th Day The federal closure lasted its 25th day as officials revealed the news, which followed appeals by more than two hundred Congressional Democrats urging agriculture officials to utilize contingency funds to pay for next month's benefits. “The reality is, funds are depleted,” the department confirmed. “At this time, assistance will not be provided” on 1 November. Millions Affected Over 40 million Americans rely on these food benefits, according to federal data. Some regions, including one southwestern state, dependence on this assistance reaches one-fifth of the population. Documents reviewed by a major news agency revealed that federal authorities chose not to tap reserve funds for November food benefits. Partisan Impasse Congressional leaders continue to disagree regarding how to finance and restart federal agencies. Comments by the head of a budget research center noted that the White House had opportunities to take earlier action to prevent benefits from running out. “Officials were able and expected to made moves weeks ago to be prepared to utilize available money,” the comments added. “Instead, it may choose not to use them in an effort to gain political advantage” as Republicans seek to push upper chamber Democrats to approve legislation that would reopen the federal government. Local Responses Governors in two affected states declared states of emergency this week to make money available for hunger relief preparing for SNAP benefits not being issued in November.