Editorial written by Dallas Morning News Editorial Board
As the government shutdown stretches on, federal food assistance programs will be halted for the first time since the benefit began more than six decades ago. Over 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children, rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food stamps.
Congress’ failure to keep this program funded is not just a policy lapse. It’s also a moral one.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture began to notify states earlier this month that if the government shutdown didn’t end by Oct. 27, SNAP benefits would be suspended on Nov. 1. That means the flow of roughly $8 billion in monthly benefits, $614 million of which would go to Texans, will stop.
The White House and Congress are trading blame, but that does little to help the single mother trying to stretch her monthly benefit, or the elderly Texan having to choose between buying food or medicine. SNAP is supposed to be an entitlement — a guarantee that even when times are tough, Americans will still be able to feed their families. Instead, the program has been caught in the middle of a political standoff.
While the situation is urgent, not everyone will feel the effects immediately. Not all Texans receive benefits on the first of the month. Texas issues benefits on a rolling schedule, so if the government reopens sometime before the next payment is expected, some people may not even notice the change. But the disruption still forces families counting on benefits and those who don’t have leftover funds from October’s payments to make hard choices.
There are some contingency funds, totaling just under $6 billion, that could, in theory, be used to keep SNAP running. However, a recent USDA memo argues that because Congress hasn’t approved next year’s budget, there’s no regular appropriation to supplement, meaning the money can’t be used for SNAP benefits.
Before Oct. 1, the USDA’s shutdown plan had suggested SNAP would continue even if there was a lapse in funding, but that guidance has since been quietly removed from the agency’s website.
The USDA’s conflicting messages are troubling. If there is emergency funding that could be used, now would be the time.
While the government stalls, we encourage everyday Texans to help if they can. Last week, H-E-B announced a $5 million donation to support Texas food banks and $1 million for Meals on Wheels. The grocery giant deserves praise for its support of local food banks. We need more people and organizations to donate, especially as food banks are already overwhelmed with federal workers impacted by the shutdown.
Still, private donations can’t and shouldn’t replace public responsibility. A government that can’t keep its most vulnerable families fed and uphold its commitments is a government that has lost sight of its basic duties.
