New York declares emergency to avert hunger crisis as shutdown drags on, issues $65 mn lifeline for food aid

TO avert a hunger crisis in New York City as the government shutdown drags on, suspending the federal funding, Governor Kathy Hochul, on Thursday, October 30, declared a state of emergency to issue $65 million for assistance to food banks. Federal funding for the national food stamp program is set to expire on November 1.

As per the data from the US Department of Agriculture, New York receives nearly $650 million in federal funding for SNAP benefits each month.

Not just New York, Oregon and Virginia, too, have issued a state of emergency to free funds for emergency food assistance as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for nearly 42 million Americans are set to lapse from November.

As the shutdown continues, the Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek pledged $5 million to food banks as she also declared a 60-day food security emergency.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said the state will tap into surplus funds to cover up to one month of SNAP benefits. The money will go to food banks and pantries, already under strain.

As per Reuters, more than 41 million people receive food benefits in the US.

Food aid crisis in America

The government shutdown is putting pressure on food banks across the country as federal support runs dry. With SNAP benefits at risk, more families, including the furloughed federal workers, are turning to local food pantries for help, quickly depleting their supplies.

November 1, Saturday, will mark the first-ever lapse in the SNAP and make as many as 42 million food stamp recipients a casualty in the month-long clash over funding the government.

But no solution has been agreed upon by both Democrats and Republicans to fund the food aid program to avert any hunger crisis. Republicans are hoping that the depleting funds for food aid might push the Democrats to the negotiating table.

“People are realizing what’s at stake now. And I think, you know, as the pain intensifies, I think we’re trending at least in the right direction. So we’ll see what happens,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.

But Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, like most others in his party, has remained resolute and refused to bend on the health care subsidies. “Democrats will not stand by while Republicans manufacture a hunger crisis,” Schumer said.