(AURN News) — As the government shutdown drags on, millions of Americans could lose their lifeline to food. States from Texas to New York to California are warning that if Congress doesn’t act by the end of the month, families relying on SNAP — the nation’s largest food assistance program — may not receive their November benefits at all.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, serves more than 42 million people. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the shutdown could leave millions of families without access to food.
Meanwhile, the national debt has risen to $38 trillion, increasing by nearly $70,000 every second. Experts warn that higher debt means higher prices, higher interest rates and fewer resources for programs like SNAP.
If the shutdown continues past Oct. 27, the hunger crisis will grow — not because the food is gone, but because the funding is frozen.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
