As federal food assistance runs out, junior troops with families may be hit hard

Thousands of military families won’t receive federal food assistance next month as the government shutdown impacts funding to fight food insecurity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that it would not be issuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits this month, due to the ongoing government shutdown. A partisan notice on the USDA’s website on Monday said funding had expired.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01,” the notice says.

More than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, among them thousands of active-duty military members and their families. The benefits, which are funded by the federal government but operated by states, are sent monthly and provide vital assistance to military families s