Across Michigan and beyond, families and small businesses are bracing for the fallout of a paused Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program that underpins food security, economic vitality and community stability. We represent two sectors — retail and social services — with one unified message: this program must be protected.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced a pause in November SNAP benefits, following federal directives amid the ongoing government shutdown. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service warned that due to the lapse in federal funding, there may be insufficient resources to cover benefits for 42 million Americans. In Michigan, nearly 1.5 million people — 13% of households — rely on SNAP to put food on their tables.

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