Food Stamps in Limbo: Trump's Shutdown Standoff

The government shutdown is causing chaos for millions who rely on food stamps. President Trump recently said that SNAP benefits won't be paid until Democrats agree to end the shutdown. This statement came after the administration promised to use emergency funds to send out partial payments. But now, it's unclear if those funds will actually be used. The government has been shut down for 35 days, making it the longest in U. S. history. Over 42 million Americans depend on SNAP to buy food each month. The program is run by the federal government but managed by states. The Department of Agriculture said earlier that food aid wouldn't be sent out on November 1st because of the shutdown. They claimed there wasn't enough money in the emergency fund to cover the costs.But a judge in Rhode Island ordered the government to use the emergency fund to pay for food stamps. The Justice Department said they would follow the order and use the $4. 6 billion in the fund to cover half of the benefits for November. However, they warned that the payments might be delayed because states need time to adjust their systems. The shutdown is creating a lot of confusion and stress for people who need these benefits. It's not clear when the payments will go out or if they will be full or partial. The situation is complicated, and many people are worried about how they will afford food while the government is closed.