The statement is short, but it has wide-ranging implications for people needing food as the federal government shutdown continues.
The US Department of Agriculture says it will not issue benefits through the SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, this upcoming Saturday. The USDA blames Senate Democrats, saying Democrats have voted 12 times to not fund the program. The statement on the USDA website also says Democrats “can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
In the decision not to use around $5 billion in contingency funds, and as part of a separate memo that came to light Friday, the USDA says that money is “not legally available to cover regular benefits.”
How this new development affects the Lyon County Women, Infants and Children or WIC program remains to be seen. Lyon County WIC has been poised to continue operating through Nov. 10, according to CareArc Chief Financial Officer Seresa Howe, and there were already contingency plans announced to work with counterparts in Johnson County if local operations had to be totally shut down.
It’s estimated SNAP helps about one in eight Americans with their grocery needs. Lyon County WIC currently helps more than 700 people. Agencies working to provide SNAP benefits had already been told to hold off on processing November benefits until further notice about two weeks ago.
