SNAP to run out of money two weeks, affecting 144,000 Rhode Islanders

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — 42 million Americans facing food insecurity could lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the coming weeks as the government shutdown drags on.

This includes 144,200 Rhode Island residents who utilized the program in the 2024 federal fiscal year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

1,113,700 Massachusetts residents utilized the program in that time.

According to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, will run out of money in two weeks.

“So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown,” said Rollins, accusing Congressional Democrats in the shutdown.

Democrats are still holding out for a deal that extends expiring enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.

One out of eight Americans utilize the SNAP program for assistance with their groceries.

SNAP has a contingency fund of approximately $6 billion, but total November benefits are expected to be about $8 billion.