Salem, Oregon – The Trump Administration has informed states that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won’t be sent out in November because the federal government is still shut down. This means that millions of Americans don’t know how they will pay for food in the next several weeks.
About 757,000 people in Oregon, or one in six residents, rely on SNAP to buy food each month. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which pays for the program, has sent them a letter telling them not to start processing November benefits unless they hear otherwise.
Governor Tina Kotek condemned the move, calling it “a cruel and unacceptable situation.” She criticized the Trump Administration for continuing to fund other federal priorities while halting essential nutrition assistance.
“This is a cruel and unacceptable situation. President Trump should focus on feeding families by negotiating a deal with Congress, not doing other things like deploying troops in American cities on taxpayers’ dime.” Governor Kotek said in a release.
As the shutdown goes on, most of the USDA’s work has come to a halt. This includes programs that need federal money, such food assistance. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to get money, which state authorities believe shows that the federal government has its priorities wrong.
Stopping benefits might be especially bad for Oregon. About 210,000 of the people in the state who get SNAP help are kids, and about 130,000 are seniors. For a lot of people, especially those who live in rural regions, SNAP is not only a lifeline but also a way to boost the local economy. Economists say that every dollar in food benefits leads to up to $1.80 in economic activity. This means that the freeze could have effects that go beyond individual homes.
“We know that hundreds of thousands of children, older adults and hard-working families and individuals depend on SNAP food benefits to get enough food,” said ODHS Acting Director Liesl Wendt. “In collaboration with the Governor’s Office we are closely monitoring the situation and will share updates as soon as we receive information from the federal government about the ability to issue SNAP benefits. In the meantime, during this time of uncertainty, we encourage everyone who receives SNAP to familiarize themselves with the free food resources in their community and to make a plan for what they will do if they do not receive their food benefits in November on time.”
ODHS advised residents to remain up to date by using its website and social media accounts, and to sign up for alerts through the Oregon ONE Mobile app. The agency also suggests that people look into local resources like the Oregon Food Bank, 211info, and the Aging and Disability Resource Connection for help and food in an emergency.
Washington is in charge of November SNAP benefits for now, but there is no clear schedule for when they will be resolved. Families in Oregon and across the country that rely on this important program to eat are becoming increasingly concerned as the shutdown goes on.
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