Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
If Shutdown Continues, SNAP Benefits Could Be Threatened Leaving Millions Of Americans Without Help To Buy Food
CBS News: SNAP Benefits And The Shutdown: Millions Could Face Severe Cuts To Food Stamps Due To Government Shutdown And USDA Underfunding
The partial government shutdown glided into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program — could have their assistance disrupted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP at the federal level, is one of the agencies unfunded during the partial government shutdown. Although SNAP is automatically renewed, it has not been allocated funding from Congress beyond January. Congress has appropriated $3 billion in emergency funds for SNAP distribution, but that would not cover all of February's obligations. (Segers, 1/6)
NBC News: Prolonged Shutdown Could Leave Millions Without Food Stamps And Hit Small Businesses
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, costs an average of around $4.8 billion per month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But because of the government shutdown, the program has only $3 billion in emergency reserves for February. More than 19 million households in the United States receive food stamps, accounting for nearly 39 million people. Each household receives on average $245.28 per month. (McCausland, 1/5)
Huffington Post: Millions Could Lose Food Assistance If Government Shutdown Continues
The USDA has said only that it has enough leftover money to pay for January’s benefits. Its reserve fund amounts to less than the total projected cost of February’s benefits. After February, it’s possible there would be nothing. Other food programs that serve seniors, mothers and children could also be affected. Spokespeople for the USDA did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday. (Delaney, 1/5)
Newsweek: Trump's Government Shutdown Could Hit Poorest Americans As Food Stamps Face Cuts
Dottie Rosenbaum, a senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, told NBC News that the average of the ... shortfall across the estimated 19 million households currently on food stamps is a cut of around $90 per month. It constitutes a large chunk of the average monthly amount each family receives, which is about $245. "Even if the President and Congress resolve the shutdown by February, depending on the decisions the Administration makes in the coming one to two weeks, households could experience a substantial delay in receiving their full SNAP allotment for February because of the operational challenges that states and EBT contractors face," she said. (Zhao, 1/6)
KPLC: Louisiana Food Stamps Still Being Accepted Despite Government Partial Shutdown
Food stamps are still being accepted at Louisiana vendors despite an ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government. Concerns grew on social media that the shutdown would impact food stamp availability following reports of an Indiana grocery store denying customers' EBT cards. Store management learned the denial was because of the government partial shutdown, which is entering its 15th day. (Leake, 1/6)
Dayton Daily News: Government Shutdown: Food Banks To Bear Food Storage Costs
As the government shutdown reaches the two-week mark, local food banks are bracing for an increase in demand while paying thousands of dollars in costs typically covered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Foodbank in Dayton and Second Harvest Food Bank in Springfield receive frozen meats, fresh produce, milk and other foods through the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The local nonprofit organizations say they will continue receiving shipments of food through February, but the cost to store and transport the commodities now will fall on them. (Wilson, 1/5)
