USCCB president raises alarm about disruption of federal food assistance

The president of the U.S. bishops’ conference has urged lawmakers to fund federal food assistance before a looming deadline risks disrupting benefits for more than 40 million people.

The Trump administration said benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, would not be issued starting on Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown remains in effect.

About 42 million Americans rely on SNAP. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that in fiscal year 2023, 79% of SNAP recipient households included either a child, an elderly individual or a nonelderly individual with a disability.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement released late Oct. 28 the group is “deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted.”

“This would be catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table and places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward,” said the prelate, who heads the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services. “This consequence is unjust and unacceptable.”

In his statement, Archbishop Broglio added, “The U.S. bishops have consistently advocated for public policies that support those in need.”

“I urgently plead with lawmakers and the Administration to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that these lifesaving programs are funded, and to pass a government funding bill to end the government shutdown as quickly as possible,” he said.

This article was written by Kate Scanlon for OSV News.

Featured image: Volunteers serve food during the 20th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 23, 2019, at St. Mary Parish in Menasha, Wis. (OSV News photo/Brad Birkholz)