The Department of Agriculture has secured February funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. USDA will rely on a provision of the just-expired Continuing Resolution, which provides an appropriation for programs like SNAP and child Nutrition to incur obligations for program operations within 30 days of the CR's expiration. States will need to take action to issue February benefits on or before January 20th.

 

The move appears to show that the Trump administration is preparing for the government shutdown to continue through much of January, if not longer. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the action was directed by President Trump, and that it “works and is legally sound.” The plan was announced following reports that the program was close to running out of reserve funding.

 

 

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