NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee is warning Tennesseans who rely on SNAP to prepare for a possible lapse in benefits beginning Nov. 1 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Lee blamed the potential disruption on congressional Democrats, saying they “have not voted to end the government shutdown.”

SNAP is federally funded, and Lee said Tennessee cannot use state dollars to issue benefits because the state has no mechanism to load funds onto SNAP cards.

More than 690,000 Tennesseans receive SNAP, with the federal government spending about $146 million each month on the program in the state.

“Congress has a responsibility to fund the federal government, and while Democrats continue to hold federal dollars hostage, my administration is working with members of the faith community

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