Shutting Down the Shelves: How the Government Shutdown Could Impact Food Assistance Programs
With the fourth partial government shutdown in a decade on the horizon, many Americans are wondering what impact this will have on them, their benefits, and their day-to-day lives. For anyone who eats, the shutdown should raise serious alarms. Food assistance programs and food inspection procedures are at serious risk.
US government operations depend upon the annual budget preparation cycles between the President, Senate, and House. They must agree on spending. After the President submits the annual budget to Congress, the House and Senate work separately to develop budget resolutions. They then come together to resolve differences. If Congress fails to pass the budget or the President disapproves a Congressional budget, a shutdown can occur. Aside from essential functions, federal government contractors and civilian employees must stop work. These disruptions cost taxpayers a boatload of money.
Despite needing food to survive, several food-providing programs are not considered essential so they will stop operating, leaving many beneficiaries hungry in the coming days. Some programs, like Medicare/aid and Social Security, will not be as heavily impacted. However, food assistance programs and stamps are not as fortunate. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will likely continue in the short term, but the funds for other programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will dry up much sooner.
SNAP offers food assistance to low-income families nationwide. It receives annual funding from the federal government, but if the shutdown lasts beyond October, there could be some serious consequences for SNAP. Food banks and Meals on Wheels could also see disruptions during a government shutdown.
WIC is overseen by the USDA, serving low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to five years old. Funding flows through on an annual basis, exposing it to higher degrees of risk. If the shutdown occurs, these women and children will be turned away from grocery stores, even with the federal contingency fund. The Agricultural Secretary, Tom Vilsack, explained that WIC will expire or stop immediately in the event of a shutdown because the department does not have a contingency plan beyond funds for a day or two. This could leave as many as 1.5 million babies in the country without access to vital nutrition assistance, including infant formula. California and Texas, where about 1.759 million WIC recipients love, are expected to be hit the hardest.
Aside from benefits, certain food inspections will also stop. While some USDA food inspectors are considered essential, many FDA inspectors will not be able to work. These are the inspectors who vet everything from produce to shelf staples. Only essential investigators will be able to inspect meat and poultry facilities or track down outbreaks. This means that many of the FDA inspections we rely on to prevent contamination will be stopped, which could result in illness, hospitalization, or even death.
With only a few more days to resolve the issue, it is critical for many Americans that they find safe access to nutritious food quickly. Even more concerning for many, the House FY24 agriculture bill will cut key food and nutrition programs including weakening school meals and the WIC program. Whatever the outcome of this weekend, one thing is for sure, for those who eat, this shutdown will have unappetizing consequences.
Article Written by Zoé Tkaczyk
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/politics/government-shutdown-impacts/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/politics/government-shutdown-impacts/index.html
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