đ Share this article Nutrition Assistance Expected to Expire for 41 Million During Continuing Government Closure Federal agriculture authorities declared on Saturday that nutrition assistance payments under one of the countryâs largest welfare initiatives will not be distributed next month due to the ongoing government funding lapse. Closure Continues For Nearly Four Weeks The government shutdown was in nearly a month at the time of the statement, which followed calls from over 200 Congressional Democrats asking agriculture officials to tap into contingency funds to fund November's food assistance. âUltimately, funds are depleted,â the USDA stated. âAt this time, no payments will be distributedâ beginning in November. Widespread Impact More than 41 million individuals rely on the regular assistance, per federal data. Various areas, like New Mexico, use of SNAP is as high as 21% of residents. A memo obtained by journalists showed that USDA officials decided against using emergency reserves for November food benefits. Legislative Deadlock Congressional leaders are still at odds about the way to finance and restart government operations. Comments by the leader of a budget research center noted that federal leadership had opportunities to take earlier action to avoid interruption in payments. âIt could have, and should have made moves before now to be prepared to utilize available money,â the comments added. âInstead, officials could opt out to secure political leverageâ while GOP lawmakers attempt to push upper chamber Democrats to approve a funding package to restart federal functions. States Prepare Executives in multiple regions issued emergency declarations recently to make money available for hunger relief expecting nutrition assistance payments stopping during the upcoming period.