The USDA announces that no federal SNAP benefits will be delivered during the government shutdown, and blames Democrats

The USDA has warned that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not expire on November 1, disrupting food access across the country. As the government shutdown continues.

The department posted a notice of the grim announcement after the Trump administration said it would not tap nearly $5 billion in emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing through November. Which raises the risks for the nearly 42 million Americans receiving aid Through the program every month.

The ad blamed Senate Democrats for filibustering the program, also known as food stamps.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry.” The USDA notice said.

The statement continued: “At this time, there will be no benefits issued on November 1st. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”

SNAP benefits were safe in October because states received federal funding before the government shutdown began on October 1.

The Trump administration has cast the dire effects of the shutdown on Democrats, arguing that the party will not agree to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on extending expiring benefits under the Affordable Care Act.

“They can continue to seek health care for illegal aliens and sex-conversion procedures or reopen the government so mothers, children, and the most vulnerable among us can get vital food assistance,” the USDA notice said.

Democratic lawmakers wrote to Agriculture Secretary Brock Rollins asking the government to use emergency funds to cover most of November’s benefits.

A USDA memo that appeared Friday asserted that “emergency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits,” and cited Super Hurricane Melissa as a reason for withholding funds for people in disaster areas.

Some states have already announced plans to suspend SNAP payments next month, while others have agreed to temporarily foot the benefit bill.

“If you have accumulated SNAP benefits from previous months in your account, use those funds now to purchase stable foods that can last through November and beyond,” Arkansas Department of Human Services states her website.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed 30 National Guard soldiers to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank this week to sort fresh produce and packaged meals before benefits are cut off. KABC reported.

Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to provide food assistance to SNAP recipients and encouraged residents to support local nonprofits by donating food.

Other states encouraged residents to locate food banks and stock up on goods to carry through the next month.

The USDA memo also confirmed that states that promised their residents continued benefits would not be reimbursed for doing so.

Low-income households eligible for SNAP receive debit cards loaded each month by the federal government to load groceries at participating stores.

The average monthly benefit is $187 per person, and is often provided to those with incomes at or below the poverty level.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) criticized Republicans and President Trump on Sunday for not agreeing to negotiate and end the shutdown of CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“The reality is if they sat down to try to negotiate, we probably could get something done pretty quickly,” Murphy said.

“We could open the government on Tuesday or Wednesday, and there wouldn’t be any food stamp program crisis.”

With mail wires