The U.S. federal government’s shutdown reached a full four weeks on the 28th, and a federal food assistance program relied upon by tens of millions is about to run out of funds. Twenty-five states governed by Democrats, along with the capital Washington, filed lawsuits against the federal government on the same day, demanding that federal emergency funds be used to maintain this program.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Massachusetts, seeks to overturn the federal government’s earlier directive for states to halt the distribution of food assistance benefits and requests the Department of Agriculture to deploy all available funds to ensure the continuation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in November. Officials from the states involved in the lawsuit believe the Department of Agriculture’s plan to halt funding for this program violates federal law.
Because of the government shutdown, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of funds on the 31st of this month. The program covers about 42 million people across the United States—roughly one-eighth of the total population—most of whom have incomes below the poverty line. Those receiving assistance may use federal food relief funds at designated stores and other locations to purchase food.
In September, the Department of Agriculture stated its intention to use federal emergency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operating during the shutdown; however, on October 25, the department announced the suspension of the program, to end all food relief payments on November 1.
A memorandum from the Department of Agriculture disclosed by the media shows that the federal government refuses to use the roughly $5 billion (about 20.984 billion ringgit) in emergency funds to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The reason given is that the law stipulates emergency funds are to be used for disaster relief and similar purposes and cannot be used for everyday welfare expenditures. In addition, the Department of Agriculture also said if states temporarily share this program’s costs in November, they will not be compensated by the federal government later.
Several state attorneys general participating in the lawsuit sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Rollins, requesting a legal explanation for the delayed disbursement of funds and possible intervention options before the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is halted.