Democrats’ Shutdown Will Cut Off SNAP for 42 Million Americans

Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), released the following statement on day 27 of the government shutdown, the longest full government shutdown, echoing Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ message to Americans regarding impacts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household benefits in November.

“If just five Democrats would come to their senses and vote to reopen the government, 42 million Americans wouldn’t lose their SNAP benefits this Saturday, November 1st,” said Senator Marshall. “Democrats have had a dozen chances to do the right thing – and every time, they’ve chosen politics over American families. This will be the most painful consequence yet, and they’ll own every bit of it. The Trump administration has no funding options left to keep this critical program afloat. The only path forward is for Democrats to reopen the government, now.”

Background:

• SNAP provides benefits for approximately 42 million people across the country. That includes a total distribution of more than $34.4 million to more than 93,000 Kansas households – nearly 188,000 Kansans – who depend on SNAP each month to help put food on their tables.
• Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come November 1^st.
• This jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those who have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed Federal employees who will not receive their combined October/November benefits.
• SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.
• Instead, the contingency fund is a source of funds for contingencies, such as the Disaster SNAP program, which provides food purchasing benefits for individuals in disaster areas, including natural disasters.

Click here to read more from USDA.

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Contact: Payton Fuller