President Donald Trump’s administration plans to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits next month, cutting off federal food assistance to nearly one-in-six Oregonians, Gov. Tina Kotek said Monday.
The Oregon Department of Human Services began notifying more than 750,000 low-income residents — nearly half of whom are children and seniors — that they will not receive the benefits, known as SNAP or food stamps, after Oct. 31 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“This is a cruel and unacceptable situation,” Kotek said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “President Trump should focus on feeding families by negotiating a deal with Congress, not doing other things like deploying troops in American cities on taxpayers’ dime.”
Earlier this month, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture told states to delay processing SNAP benefits for November. The federal program, which provides food assistance to 40 million people nationwide, is fully funded by the agency.
Not all federal government agencies and programs have been left in financial limbo because of the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, however. Kotek’s office noted Monday that the Trump administration has continued to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the state, “sending a clear message that the administration is prioritizing other matters ahead of putting food on tables for Oregonians.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson blamed the government shutdown on Democrats in a statement on Monday. The shutdown began because Republicans and Democrats are at odds over health care subsidies.
In a statement, Oregon human services officials said they were closely monitoring the situation but urged SNAP recipients to prepare for the worst.
“During this time of uncertainty, we encourage everyone who receives SNAP to familiarize themselves with the free food resources in their community and to make a plan for what they will do if they do not receive their food benefits in November on time,” said Liesl Wendt, the agency’s acting director.
The Oregon Food Bank said in a statement Monday that any delay in food benefits will have an immediate impact on Oregon communities.
Food banks are already fielding higher demand than usual, Oregon Food Bank Public Policy Manager Matt Newell-Ching wrote in a statement, “but the need in our communities is far greater than the resources available.”
“Families already stretching every dollar may run out of food before the next paycheck,“ Newell-Ching wrote. ”Older adults and people with disabilities could face impossible choices between groceries, rent and medicine.”
Newell-Ching encouraged anyone in need to visit OregonFoodFinder.org to find nearby food pantries.
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