SNAP benefits at risk: 42 million Americans could go hungry in government shutdown

The recent government shutdown has put Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at risk as nearly millions of Americans could go hungry amid funding impasse.

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the department is facing the dearth of funds to pay $8 billion in food stamp benefits which are going to expire on November 1.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also argued that the USDA agency cannot tap into $6 billion contingency funding to cover next month’s SNAP benefits for people.

The USDA said in a memo posted Sunday, “Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”

Around 42 million Americans depend on food stamps coming every month on people’s benefit transfer cards.

In the case of slashing SNAP, people will be left scrambling for food on their tables.

According to Kasey McBlais, a 42-year-old single mom who lives in Buckfield, Maine, "Now we'll have to prioritize which bills we can pay and which can wait.”

After November, the federal will stop $8 billion worth SNAP monthly payments.

Under the program, households in every state receive $187 a month, helping them to cover groceries costs.