For many families in America, the grocery store has become a place of many questions, uncertainties, and overwhelming choices. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was a way to ease the struggle of affording groceries and provide aid for families. Since the COVID-19 benefits have ended, many Americans are struggling to choose between hunger and stability.  

SNAP is a program designed to help low-income families purchase food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, runs SNAP and its availability in every state across the country. Families who use SNAP are eligible for an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used at grocery stores and markets. Across America, 40 million families have used this benefit to put dinner on the table for their children, senior citizens, or family members with disabilities. 

In recent political discussions, lawmakers have pushed to reduce funding for SNAP, debating whether it promotes unemployment. Congress wants to make it harder for families to qualify for SNAP, such as requiring 20 hours of work per week. This new set of rules harms American families by removing assistance that is essential to a family’s survival. 

The Trump administration, which initially promoted the cutting of SNAP, says that for November, only half the number of food stamps will be provided. This decision was made after a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered either the USDA to continue the benefits from SNAP for the entire month of November or, if the USDA lacked sufficient funding, to provide partial financing using the contingency fund, a backup pool of money for SNAP. 

Amid the government shutdown, SNAP benefits have been significantly delayed. With a lack of federal funding, individual states will have to step in to assist with SNAP payments. Initially, families were given an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Still, as the Government shutdown continues, that card will have issues being processed due to the lack of support from federal spending.

The ongoing debate about the SNAP benefits isn’t just a political issue, but a human rights issue. The Trump administration’s steps toward limiting federal funding for SNAP show the lack of priorities our country is facing. Today, food pantries are flooded with families in horror, wondering how they will afford their next meal. If our government wants to strengthen its economic standings, then ensuring that every American family can afford to put a meal on the table should be the number one priority.