Gov. Tim Walz and state budget officials are warning that the federal government shutdown will cause hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans to lose access to nutrition assistance programs beginning Nov. 1.
“If Republicans in Congress don’t take action to stop this government shutdown soon, Minnesotans will be forced to ration their food,” said Walz. “These programs save lives. Every day congress fails to act, Minnesotans will suffer.”
On Oct. 10, the United States Department of Agriculture issued holds on November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Nearly 440,000 Minnesotans accessing SNAP or the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), including 180,000 children and 67,000 seniors, will lose their grocery benefits. MFIP cash benefits will continue to be issued as usual.
SNAP is Minnesota’s most effective tool for addressing hunger and poverty, providing food for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families. Individuals and families currently receiving SNAP and MFIP Food should continue to use benefits as usual. Despite the ongoing shutdown, DCYF expects that SNAP recipients with unspent funds on their EBT cards will still be able to use these funds.
