As the continued government shutdown entered into its third week Saturday with no end in sight. If the government is not reopened before February, Approximately 44,000 Rockland County residents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) the nation’s food stamp program could have their assistance disrupted.
The Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, is one of the agencies affected during the partial government shutdown. Although SNAP funding is automatically renewed, Due to the government shutdown, 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. Moreover, If the shutdown continues through March, there will be no remaining funding for SNAP, endangering food security for over 44,000 Rockland County residents.
Other County programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are also not receiving federal funds at all during the Government shutdown, but “can continue to operate at the State and local level with any funding and commodity resources that remain available,” according to the USDA. Also, Child nutrition programs such as school meals and afterschool meals will be affected.