U.S. Department of Agriculture SNAP website page (Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
(OPGOV.AI GLOBAL) - Today, many are worried that they will not have the funds to buy the food they need for their family.
However, they are better off than they were yesterday, with a promise of $4.65 billion to do so. But the question now is: how long will that last? The emergency fund billions can only feed half of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) population during the ongoing government shutdown.
SNAP, a lifeline for single mothers and children, is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA).
The lack of good news, or any news for that matter, on the government website is interesting, to say the least, with the most recent update from September regarding the appointment of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson as the new DOA nutrition advisor.
U.S. Department of Agriculture website page (Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Newsweek reports this afternoon, "Trump Admin to Distribute Reduced SNAP Benefits." The notable news journal states that there were plans to "halt payments starting Nov. 1, saying it could no longer sustain the program without congressional funding."
Newsweek notes, "SNAP serves roughly one in eight Americans and is a cornerstone of the nation's social safety net, costing more than $8 billion each month."
If it were not for two judges on the East Coast, from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who demanded emergency aid, the Trump Administration could have very well shut down the entire program until further notice.
On Friday, the president used the internet to update the public.
"Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do," Trump said on Truth Social.
The wealthy president said he does not want Americans to go hungry due to the Democrats' delay in reopening the government.
To date, the shutdown has cost, according to PolitiFact. The report posted on the Public Broadcasting System states the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports most of "this lost growth would be made up in the first quarter of 2026 — but not all of it."
The CBO estimates "between $7 billion and $14 billion would be permanently lost, depending on how long the shutdown lasts."
For now, OpGov.ai is grateful that millions will be fed today.
If you'd like to contribute to the story, please email me at reporterangelaunderwood@gmail.com.
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