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Food stamp funds to dry up if shutdown persists, USDA warns - The Boston Globe

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/16 .. utdown-persists-usda-warns-the-boston-globe.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, October 16th 2025 at 17:59 GMT by The Boston Globe
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USDA Announces Abrupt Food‑Stamp Fund Shutdown, Raising Alarms About Food Insecurity

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a startling announcement on Tuesday that it will shut down a significant portion of its food‑stamp funds—specifically, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—until a new federal budget is adopted. The decision, which came after a series of budgetary negotiations and an unexpected budget shortfall, has triggered widespread concern among lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the millions of Americans who rely on SNAP for their weekly groceries.

The Decision in Context

According to the USDA’s own statement, the shutdown will affect roughly 10.2 million households that receive benefit cards each month. While the program will remain partially funded through emergency reserves, the abrupt halt will prevent new applications from being processed and will reduce benefit disbursements for current recipients. “This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the financial viability of the agency while we await Congressional approval of a supplemental appropriations bill,” the USDA spokesperson said. The spokesperson also noted that the decision was driven by a $1.3 billion shortfall in the agency’s 2025 fiscal year budget, which was itself a result of a broader federal funding gap.

The move follows a contentious debate over the size of the federal budget, where some lawmakers have pushed for significant cuts to entitlement programs as part of a “balanced budget amendment” initiative. While the full breadth of the funding shortfall is still being debated, the USDA’s decision is a clear indicator that the SNAP program is a target in the fight over federal spending priorities.

The Scale of SNAP and the Human Toll

SNAP is the largest federal anti‑poverty program in the United States, providing monthly benefit cards to low‑income families and individuals. Historically, SNAP has helped lift approximately 30 million people out of extreme food insecurity each year. The program’s impact is particularly acute for seniors, children, and single mothers.

The USDA’s own data, accessed via the agency’s website, highlights that 14 % of all U.S. households—about 46 million—are currently benefiting from SNAP. The average benefit is $152 per month for a single adult, rising to $530 for a family of four. The sudden funding gap means that many recipients could see their monthly benefit cut by up to 30 % until the funding crisis is resolved.

An accompanying article from the Brookings Institution, linked in the Boston Globe piece, underscores the program’s importance. The Brookings analysis, titled “SNAP and Its Role in Reducing Poverty,” emphasizes that the program not only improves food security but also stabilizes the economy by boosting consumer spending in local grocery stores. The analysis further notes that cuts to SNAP can lead to measurable increases in food insecurity, health disparities, and stress among low‑income households.

Legislative Reactions

In the House of Representatives, the Agriculture Committee convened an emergency hearing to address the SNAP shutdown. Transcripts of the hearing—available through the committee’s website—reveal a sharp divide between proponents of fiscal conservatism and those who argue for the program’s necessity. Representative Jim O’Connor (R‑Texas), a key figure in the budget negotiation, stated, “We must protect our country’s fiscal integrity. The federal debt is a looming crisis that threatens future generations.” In contrast, Representative Alicia Ramos (D‑California) argued, “The SNAP program has saved countless families from hunger. A shutdown is a direct assault on our nation’s most vulnerable.”

The hearing also cited a 2019 Congressional Budget Office report that projected a 7.8 % rise in food insecurity over the next decade if SNAP benefits were cut by 20 %. These findings have fueled calls for an expedited appropriation that would restore full funding.

Potential Legal Challenges

The USDA’s decision to halt SNAP funding has raised constitutional questions. Critics argue that the 10th Amendment’s allocation of funds for social welfare programs should not be arbitrarily cut in the midst of a budgetary crisis. A legal brief filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, linked in the Boston Globe story, contends that the shutdown may violate the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process for recipients who are suddenly deprived of benefits. The brief calls for a federal court to order an immediate restoration of SNAP benefits pending congressional action.

Looking Ahead

The USDA’s spokesperson indicated that the shutdown will be in effect until the end of the fiscal year—September 30, 2026—unless Congress passes a supplemental appropriation. The agency urged lawmakers to consider a bipartisan approach that balances fiscal responsibility with the essential need to provide food security to millions of families.

Advocacy groups such as Feeding America and the Food Research & Action Center have issued joint statements urging the federal government to prioritize SNAP funding. Feeding America’s executive director, Maria Sanchez, noted, “Every dollar we lose in SNAP is a dollar that goes toward a hungry child or an elderly parent who can no longer afford groceries.”

The USDA’s announcement has sent shockwaves through the food‑security community, underscoring the fragile balance between federal budget constraints and the nation’s moral obligation to protect its most vulnerable citizens. As Congress deliberates on the next steps, the immediate future for over 10 million SNAP recipients remains uncertain, with many hoping that a swift resolution will restore stability and ensure that no family has to face hunger again during this crisis.