(The Center Square) − Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday cautioned Louisiana households that rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that no additional benefits will load onto their cards on Nov. 1 if the federal government remains shut down.
Balances already on electronic benefit transfer cards will still be available for purchases, the governor said.
About 800,000 people – roughly 17% of Louisiana’s population – receive monthly food assistance through SNAP, a federally funded program administered by states. Nationwide, about 40 million Americans use SNAP.
Landry placed responsibility for the lapse on Congress, saying the U.S. Senate must act to reopen the government.
“SNAP benefits are paid for by the federal government in Washington, and we simply administer the program here in Louisiana,” he said, urging senators to vote to end the shutdown. He noted the U.S. House “under Speaker Mike Johnson” of Louisiana had advanced legislation he said would reopen the government.
“Now it is time for those U.S. senators, under Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to vote yes and reopen the federal government,” Landry said. “Louisianans concerned about the lack of funds for this program, or any impacted federal service, should call on Chuck Schumer to reopen the federal government now.”
The Louisiana Department of Health said it will begin alerting SNAP recipients this week that November benefits won’t be added until the federal government resumes operations. The agency also distributed printable notices for retailers to post at entrances and checkout areas explaining that new funds will be unavailable.
“All Louisiana SNAP recipients should be aware that there will be no new benefits added to their cards starting November 1st unless the federal government in Washington, DC reopens,” Health Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein said, adding that the state will keep both beneficiaries and retailers informed through dcshutdown.la.gov.
USDA, which oversees SNAP, warned states earlier this month that funding could run short if the shutdown extended into November.
In an Oct. 10 letter, the department told states that there would be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for some 42 million Americans if a lapse continues. The department also instructed states to hold November issuances “until further notice.”
