Millions Across Texas Could Go Hungry If Federal Impasse Continues

Texas officials alerted the state’s most vulnerable citizens on Friday that their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could be suspended in November if the federal shutdown persists beyond October 27. This situation affects over 3.5 million Texans depending on SNAP, translating to an alarming cutoff of more than $614 million in crucial assistance; this includes 1.7 million children.The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service had previously informed local agencies that continued funding issues would halt November disbursements. According to an official letter, while SNAP funds will support transactions through October, a sustained funding lapse may leave around 42 million individuals nationwide without essential benefits.In Texas, SNAP benefits are delivered monthly to Lone Star Card users, with typical allocations ranging from $200 to $400, averaging at $379. Meanwhile, other assistance programs like TANF, WIC, Medicaid, and CHIP remain unaffected. For further insights, Texas Health and Human Services encourages visiting their website.