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Michigan – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is one of 22 other state attorneys general demanding immediate answers from the Trump Administration about how the ongoing federal government shutdown would affect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The coalition wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking for more information on how the department plans to handle financing while millions of Americans risk losing access to food assistance.
Nessel said that the USDA’s recent message to states cautioned that if the lack of appropriations continues, there may not be enough money to give full November benefits to almost 42 million people across the country. The department also told states to wait to send November SNAP issuance files to electronic benefits transfer contractors. This stopped the process without giving any clear legal reason or justification.
Nessel stressed how important it was to act quickly, saying that SNAP helps 1.4 million people in Michigan, including children, elderly, and veterans.
“SNAP helps feed 1.4 million Michiganders, and without it, families would face impossible choices between paying rent, buying medicine, or putting food on the table,” Nessel said.
The attorneys general say that the USDA has the legal power and the money to prevent this problem. They point to many billion dollars in emergency money and extra Section 32 funds that Congress set aside just for situations like these. The letter asks the USDA to use those resources to keep SNAP going instead of stopping payouts that have already been computed and approved.
The attorneys general said in a joint statement that even a short break would cause a lot of problems for millions of families and have a big effect on the national economy. They want the USDA to give them precise answers, including information about available finances, a legal reason for postponing payments, and the agency’s plan for reinstating benefits.
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If you live in Michigan and have questions about your SNAP status, you can call 2-1-1, check MI Bridges, or go to your local Department of Health and Human Services office.