ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has instructed counties to stop approving new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications effective 10:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
DCYF has also received notice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that, without renewed federal support, there are insufficient funds to pay for SNAP benefits in November.
“We are at the start of the third week of the Republicans’ government shutdown, and already it’s starting to have real effects on the lives of Minnesotans in need,” said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul). “Pausing even a single day of applications for SNAP benefits could delay approval for hungry kids and families who don’t have a day to spare. This situation is the completely unnecessary consequence of Donald Trump and Republicans, who cut rich people’s taxes, and have now shut down the government instead of passing tax credits for affordable health insurance. The 450,000 Minnesotans who receive SNAP benefits get about $5 a day, which clearly isn’t enough to get Trump’s attention or sympathy. Republicans need to get back to the negotiating table, put Americans first and take action to keep costs down for working families.”
“Nutritional programs like SNAP uplift our low-income working-class neighbors and ensure that they can put food on the table, as well as supporting local businesses through their use of benefits,” said Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Melissa Wiklund (DFL-Bloomington). “Access to nutritious food is an essential element of health for children and families, and the Senate DFL has prioritized that issue, even when faced with difficult budget decisions. We know that as a result of actions by Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, 45,000 Minnesotans could lose SNAP benefits. Those future impacts have become an immediate crisis, and our state funding is not enough to fill in the gaps. We must reopen these critical programs to ensure every Minnesotan receives the nutrition they need and deserve.”
Learn more about Sen. Murphy.
Read more news from Sen. Murphy.
Learn more about Sen. Wiklund.
Read more news from Sen. Wiklund.
