On November 1, 42 million Americans could find their food stamp cards no longer working…
Roughly 1 in 8 Americans depends on food assistance, but their EBT cards may soon stop functioning.
What happens when that becomes reality?
The government shutdown has already lasted 25 days, and there’s no end in sight.
Democrats have shown no intention of meeting President Trump’s demands, while Trump, in turn, shows no willingness to compromise with the Democrats.
If the standoff continues, the U.S. could be facing the longest government shutdown in its history, and November 1 could bring an especially harsh reality for tens of millions of Americans.
The role of the USDA
Amid the ongoing shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting November 1, it will halt funding for the food assistance program.
The Department even posted a message on its website blaming Democrats for the impending suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The message read: “Senate Democrats have voted 12 times against funding the food stamp program. Essentially, the well has run dry.”
This reality is beginning to take on dangerous dimensions.
Millions of Americans who have relied for years on EBT cards to pay for their groceries will soon have to find another way to survive.
Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, warned that the U.S. is facing “the greatest hunger crisis since the Great Depression.”
He added: “If the funds run out at the end of the month, we will be facing the largest period of hunger in America since the Great Depression.”
Food assistance supports working families with low wages, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities living on limited incomes.
Millions of Americans at risk
Soon, there will be millions of people who suddenly won’t have enough to eat.
Hunger, as a natural consequence of this situation, often leads to anger and unrest.
Already, numerous ‘EBT meltdown’ videos are circulating online, showing groups of people threatening to take food without paying.
Some have even issued violent threats against anyone who tries to stop them.
If this scenario unfolds, it will certainly not be a pleasant time for supermarket employees.
Should the government shutdown continue, mass lootings in grocery stores by angry crowds could follow.
Whether this will happen by mid-November remains uncertain, but if the situation drags on and people continue to go without the essentials they need to survive, their anger will no longer be containable.
State of emergency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has an emergency fund of $6 billion, but it has decided not to use this money to cover food assistance programs.
If the shutdown continues, around 42 million Americans will not receive their critical SNAP benefits, unless the USDA reverses its decision.
Meanwhile, a few states — such as Virginia — have announced plans to use state funds to fill the gap temporarily.
However, the USDA will not reimburse them, and many states lack the resources to assume such costs.
The immediate outcome of this situation could be social chaos.
People will be divided between those who still receive benefits and those who lose them — creating even more uncertainty and unrest.
For many who suddenly find themselves without support, daily life will become even harder.
Thanksgiving will be pivotal
If the issue is not resolved by Thanksgiving, the situation could spiral completely out of control.
At best, some poor Americans are relying on local food banks to fill the gap.
However, as already reported, demand at food banks has reached record levels — even before the shutdown began.
Many federal employees, who have already missed paychecks, are now lining up at food banks for assistance.
And if the situation drags on much longer, U.S. troops may also go unpaid by November 15.
If this continues, the outcome seems clear:
The United States could soon witness widespread social unrest across the nation.
www.bankingnews.gr
What happens when that becomes reality?
The government shutdown has already lasted 25 days, and there’s no end in sight.
Democrats have shown no intention of meeting President Trump’s demands, while Trump, in turn, shows no willingness to compromise with the Democrats.
If the standoff continues, the U.S. could be facing the longest government shutdown in its history, and November 1 could bring an especially harsh reality for tens of millions of Americans.
The role of the USDA
Amid the ongoing shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting November 1, it will halt funding for the food assistance program.
The Department even posted a message on its website blaming Democrats for the impending suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The message read: “Senate Democrats have voted 12 times against funding the food stamp program. Essentially, the well has run dry.”
This reality is beginning to take on dangerous dimensions.
Millions of Americans who have relied for years on EBT cards to pay for their groceries will soon have to find another way to survive.
Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, warned that the U.S. is facing “the greatest hunger crisis since the Great Depression.”
He added: “If the funds run out at the end of the month, we will be facing the largest period of hunger in America since the Great Depression.”
Food assistance supports working families with low wages, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities living on limited incomes.
Millions of Americans at risk
Soon, there will be millions of people who suddenly won’t have enough to eat.
Hunger, as a natural consequence of this situation, often leads to anger and unrest.
Already, numerous ‘EBT meltdown’ videos are circulating online, showing groups of people threatening to take food without paying.
Some have even issued violent threats against anyone who tries to stop them.
If this scenario unfolds, it will certainly not be a pleasant time for supermarket employees.
Should the government shutdown continue, mass lootings in grocery stores by angry crowds could follow.
Whether this will happen by mid-November remains uncertain, but if the situation drags on and people continue to go without the essentials they need to survive, their anger will no longer be containable.
State of emergency
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has an emergency fund of $6 billion, but it has decided not to use this money to cover food assistance programs.
If the shutdown continues, around 42 million Americans will not receive their critical SNAP benefits, unless the USDA reverses its decision.
Meanwhile, a few states — such as Virginia — have announced plans to use state funds to fill the gap temporarily.
However, the USDA will not reimburse them, and many states lack the resources to assume such costs.
The immediate outcome of this situation could be social chaos.
People will be divided between those who still receive benefits and those who lose them — creating even more uncertainty and unrest.
For many who suddenly find themselves without support, daily life will become even harder.
Thanksgiving will be pivotal
If the issue is not resolved by Thanksgiving, the situation could spiral completely out of control.
At best, some poor Americans are relying on local food banks to fill the gap.
However, as already reported, demand at food banks has reached record levels — even before the shutdown began.
Many federal employees, who have already missed paychecks, are now lining up at food banks for assistance.
And if the situation drags on much longer, U.S. troops may also go unpaid by November 15.
If this continues, the outcome seems clear:
The United States could soon witness widespread social unrest across the nation.
www.bankingnews.gr
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