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U.S. Senate Democrats blocked Republicans' bill to reopen the
federal government for the 10th time Thursday. The funding lapse
started Oct. 1.
Thursday, the Illinois Department of Human Service announced
federal officials informed all states that it will not fund
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits past Nov. 1
if the government shutdown persists. In Illinois, the lapse of
SNAP funding could impact 1.9 million people.
Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his administration is looking at
how state taxpayers can cover the potential of the lapse of
federal tax dollars.
“It's not a state program. It's a federal program that we
administer, but they are making it near impossible,” Pritzker
told reporters after an unrelated event. “So I am hoping that
the shutdown will end before Nov. 1.”
Some of that help could be to food pantries, Pritzker said.
“We're looking at ways that we might be able to at least augment
what they're not going to get,” he said.
Pritzker said it’s up to President Donald Trump to get the
government back open. Democrats have shifted their demands,
saying they will only vote on the clean Continuing Resolution to
fund federal agencies if Republicans guarantee that a health
policy bill will pass.
Kate Maehr, the CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, told
a recent Illinois House Committee that other impacts to SNAP are
coming, even if the shutdown ends and the government opens.
Those changes include work requirements to get the benefits.
“The Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that
450,000 Illinoisans will be impacted by these requirements,
which will begin in December of 2025.”
The approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans utilizing the food
subsidy cost federal taxpayers $705 million in 2024.
Thérèse Boudreaux contributed to this report.
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