“Our children are not political pawns,” advocate says
Nearly 16 million children are at risk of going hungry come Saturday, when the government shutdown will interrupt funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
For many of the 7.3 million households with children that rely on SNAP nationwide, these benefits are the only thing standing between kids and empty cupboards. The Trump Administration has the ability to avoid this crisis by tapping into the Department of Agriculture’s SNAP contingency fund, which is set aside to pay benefits when necessary, but they are refusing to do so.
“Our children are not political pawns to be used during this government shutdown,” said First Focus on Children President Bruce Lesley. “When it comes to child hunger, the White House must use all tools at its disposal to minimize harm. First Focus on Children calls on the Administration to immediately announce the use of contingency funds to provide November SNAP benefits and to work with states to ensure benefits reach children and families on time.”
The Trump Administration recently asserted that SNAP’s contingency funds cannot legally be used to cover regular benefits, a claim that the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says contradicts the law and prior practice, including by the Trump Administration itself. The Administration also has the authority to supplement these reserves, CBPP writes, which on their own will not fully fund benefits. The Administration recently used this authority to transfer $300 million to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides formula and other necessities to 7 million low-income babies and their mothers.