Walz Calls on Feds to Fund SNAP Benefits During Shutdown

(Learfield News/Eagan, MN) — The State of Minnesota is using four-million dollars in emergency funds to help food shelves as they face increasing demand.

Governor Tim Walz says they’re going to need more help if 440-thousand Minnesotans lose SNAP benefits November 1st.

Walz said Monday during a food shelf visit, “I want to be very clear, USDA during the shutdown has a contingency fund that they could release just like us. They are choosing not to.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the five-billion dollars in contingency funds are not “legally available” to cover SNAP benefits right now.

Food assistance payments end Saturday if the federal government shutdown continues.