Shutdown enters 4th week with over 40 million people at risk of losing food benefits

Why isn't USDA using the $5 billion contingency fund for SNAP/WIC?

How does the shutdown impact food aid for 40 million Americans?

What type of surgery did Cam Skattebo undergo?

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week as PresidentDonald Trump remains in Asia for trade negotiations until later this week, with no movement from Congress toward resolving the budget impasse before Saturday, Nov. 1, when funding for several key programs is expected to end.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced last week that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides assistance to over 40 million people, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, which helps more than 6 million individuals, including about 41% of all infants in the U.S., will not be available until further notice due to the shutdown.

The USDA also acknowledged in a memo first reported by Axios that it will not use a $5 billion contingency fund to maintain the program during the shutdown, claiming it’s intended for unforeseen events such as natural disasters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday, Oct. 27 that Republican leadership will discuss potential options about the soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, according to The Hill, as the current budget bill doesn’t extend the tax benefits.

The Senate is expected to convene at 3 pm ET, but is not slated to vote on any shutdown-related measures. The House remains out of session.

More: SNAP benefits won't go out Nov. 1. 'The well has run dry,' USDA says.

Is the federal government still shut down?

Yes, the federal government remains largely shut down and has been since just after midnight on Oct. 1.

More than 700,000 federal workers have been furloughed, while nearly as many are working without pay. Employees deemed essential to public safety, including military personnel, law enforcement officers, border patrol and air traffic controllers, are required to work regardless.

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While Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid despite the shutdown, this doesn’t apply to all federal workers required to work.

What do Democrats and Republicans want for the government to reopen?

Democrats are pushing to ensure tax breaks for over 24 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act and have refused to back a government spending bill that doesn’t address the issue.

The Senate Dems want to make the tax break permanent, which would otherwise expire at the end of the year, and provide reassurances to prevent the Trump administration from temporarily withholding funds.

Republicans and the president say they are open to considering a fix for the expiring ACA tax breaks, but want the issue addressed separately from the ongoing budget impasse.

What happens to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

The Social Security Administration will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits but will furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency’s shutdown plan.

Payments will likewise continue under the Medicare and Medicaid health programs.

Does the U.S. mail get delivered?

The U.S. Postal Service is open because it does not depend on Congress for funding, USPS said in a statement.

What about the airports?

Over 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are required to show up for work during the shutdown, and neither group is expected to be paid until Congress approves a budget deal.

U.S. air travel turmoil deepened as more than 5,600 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, amid increasing air traffic controller absences as the federal government shutdown continues.

The Trump administration has warned that more flight disruptions will happen as controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Will food aid continue under SNAP and WIC?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest food aid program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, posted a notice on its website on Friday, Oct. 24 saying that federal food aid will not be available on Nov. 1.

What does a shutdown mean for the military?

Trump signed an executive order earlier this month directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid despite the federal government shutdown.

However, roughly 55% of the Defense Department’s 740,000 civilian employees have been furloughed, including those involved in training, procurement, and administrative support. Civilians working in cybersecurity, medical care, weapons systems maintenance, intelligence and logistics are still working and are not included in Trump’s order to pay active-duty personnel.

National Guard forces that Trump has deployed to U.S. cities must also continue to work.

What about Homeland Security, immigration and border officers?

Only 5% of the Department of Homeland Security’s 271,000 workers have been furloughed, including those involved in research, planning, training and auditing.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that more than 70,000 sworn law enforcement officers across the department, including those serving in Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration and other critical mission areas, will be paid for all hours worked during the shutdown.

This story has been updated to include new information.