US Government Shutdown: 42 Million Americans Face Reduced Food Aid as SNAP Payments Cut by 50%

More Americans are experiencing hardship as the government shutdown continues each week.

United States:

The White House has announced it will deliver only partial food assistance payments to 42 million low-income Americans, as the government shutdown impairing public services approaches a record duration, officials informed a judge on Monday.

Last week, two federal courts determined that the Trump administration must utilize a $4.65 billion emergency fund toward the estimated $9 billion required for November's payments before suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

In a filing to a federal court in Rhode Island, Agriculture Department officials, who administer the program, stated they would not compensate for the deficit with alternative funding sources, meaning only "50 per cent of eligible households' current allotments" would be distributed.

The Democrats' opposition to a House of Representatives stopgap funding bill to restore government operations will reach its 36th day on Wednesday, potentially surpassing the record for the longest shutdown in history.

As each week passes, more Americans are suffering from the suspension of government services.

Central to the dispute is funding to help Americans cover health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

These subsidies - vital for over 20 million people - are scheduled to expire at year's end, and without congressional action, premiums will dramatically increase when the new enrollment period opens Saturday.

Washington's opposing factions are trapped in a familiar, contentious cycle, with Democrats refusing to reopen the government without an agreement to extend the subsidies, while Trump's Republicans insist they won't negotiate until government operations resume.

SNAP funding, averaging approximately $356 per household, expired on Saturday, leaving one in eight Americans uncertain about how they will purchase groceries.