COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Thursday aimed at providing temporary food assistance to families if federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are suspended due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The order authorizes the immediate use of up to $25 million in state funds for food assistance. The action is in response to a notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that November SNAP benefits will not be transferred to recipients' accounts if the federal government shutdown continues into November. Approximately 1.4 million Ohioans rely on monthly federal SNAP benefits, which total around $264 million in the state.

The governor's order directs the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to distribute the funds in two

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