Graphs: Government shutdown threatens SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans
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Millions of Americans who depend on the nation’s largest food program are bracing for uncertainty as it continues Government shutdown He threatens to stop their benefits
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a lifeline for low-income families, is set to expire on Saturday, cutting off support for More than 40 million Americans. The show’s near miss underscores how political gridlock in Washington could ripple across kitchen tables and grocery aisles across the country.
Food stamp benefits for 42 million Americans are at risk as the shutdown continues
SNAP beneficiaries reflect a broad cross-section of the country, from working families to retirees and those facing economic hardship. Benefits vary depending on income, family size, and basic living expenses, which determine eligibility and payment amounts.
About 41.7 million Americans, or one in eight households, relied on SNAP each month in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In the same year, federal spending on SNAP totaled $99.8 billion, with benefits averaging about $187 per participant each month, according to USDA data.
In fiscal year 2023, nearly 30% of all SNAP households reported having a job and receiving a paycheck. More than half of families with children receiving SNAP had at least one family member working.
In addition to SNAP benefits, 61% of participants received income from government assistance programs such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state assistance.
The Trump administration warns that 42 million Americans could lose food stamps as the shutdown continues
Overall, adults ages 18 to 59 make up the largest share of SNAP beneficiaries at 42%, followed by children at 39% and seniors at 19%, a breakdown that highlights the program’s role in supporting both the working poor and the most vulnerable.
The USDA has warned that if the shutdown continues beyond early November, states may have to delay or suspend SNAP payments altogether. Some state governors are already preparing emergency plans, although federal law leaves them little flexibility without new funding from Congress.
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On Friday, two federal judges ruled that the administration must issue food stamp benefits for November, either in full or in part.
The Trump administration previously warned that SNAP funding would stop on November 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture Brooke Rollins He reiterated that guidance during a press conference, noting: “There is an emergency fund at the USDA, but that emergency fund, by the way, doesn’t even cover half of the $9.2 billion needed for SNAP for November. It’s only allowed to flow if the core program is funded.”
Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.