Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The federal government entered day 30 of its partial shutdown on Thursday, with only hours remaining before its vital Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits become unavailable to millions in Georgia and throughout the nation.

About 1.4 million Georgians, or one in eight residents, rely on SNAP to put food on the table, government data shows. Recipients can still use leftover funds from previous months, but no new money will be added to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards .

The current shutdown has left around 750,000 federal employees furloughed and others working without pay.

Federal spending on SNAP has significantly increased in recent years, more than doubling from

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