Food assistance used by more than 40 million Americans will not be distributed from November due to the ongoing US government shutdown, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the department said in a notice on its website, which also blamed Democrats in the Senate for the impasse.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) is used by one in every eight Americans, and plays a vital role in many grocery budgets.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration declined draw on a contingency fund that would have continued benefits, saying the money was needed for potential emergencies such as natural disasters.
Democrats have condemned President Donald Trump for refusing to use the contingency fund.
“This is perhaps the most cruel and unlawful offense the Trump administration has perpetrated yet,” Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Angie Craig said in a joint statement on Friday.
They also criticised Trump for providing assistance to Argentina and building a new White House ballroom during the shutdown.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a think-tank focused on policies that help low-income families, the contingency fund would only cover about 60% of one month of benefits, however.
In a letter sent to the agriculture department on Friday, Democratic House members said there was still “significant funding available in Snap’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits”.
They asked Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to release the reserves and then transfer other available money in her department to fully fund the programme for the month.
In a memo obtained by US outlets, Rollins said the reserve can only be used for “true emergencies”, mostly natural disasters.
Earlier, in its published plan for the shutdown, her department had said it would keep a small number of employees from being furloughed to operate the programme, noting Congress had created “multi-year contingency funds” to ensure states could continue to distribute benefits.
Snap works by giving people reloadable debit cards that they can use to buy essential grocery items.
A family of four on average receives $715 (£540) per month, according to CBPP, which breaks down to a little less than $6 (£4.50) per day per person.
The states administer the programmes, with much of the funding coming from the federal government.
Several states have pledged to use their own funds to cover any shortfall, however the federal government has warned that they will not be reimbursed.
Some, including Massachusetts – where one million people are expected to lose benefits – have said they do not have enough money to make up for the lack of funds.
Many states are working with people in Snap to try locate charity food pantries and find alternative sources for meals, and California is deploying its National Guard to help distribute food.
The US government shutdown entered its 26th day on Sunday, making it the second-longest shutdown in history.
By BBC News
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