Will SNAP Survive? Navigating the Uncertain Future Amidst Government Shutdowns

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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The continuation of SNAP benefits hangs in the balance as two federal judges require the Trump administration to utilize emergency funds to sustain the program during the ongoing government shutdown.

The judges have requested an update from the administration by Monday. However, there’s a possibility that the Trump administration might challenge the ruling. Initially, they indicated that distributing the funds could take several weeks.

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This ambiguity has left many in Central Illinois anxious about securing their next meal.

“Personally, I was involved in an accident on May 20, and I’ve been unable to work since. My SNAP benefits are my lifeline for food and survival at the moment,” shared Yulanda Griffin.

“And so, in those three weeks what am I supposed to do?” Griffin said.

She said it is a problem impacting a lot of other people she knows too.

“I also have a girlfriend, she has five kids, works every day,” Griffin said. “And how is she supposed to feed those kids?”

Many organizations in Central Illinois are setting up back-up plans in the meantime, in case the Trump administration appeals the courts’ rulings or if the benefits take a while to hit peoples’ accounts.

You can find a full list of organizations helping here.

Another one of them is the C-U Winter Farmers Market, hosted by The Land Connection.

“Folks can bring their link card, they’ll show it, we aren’t going to swipe it for any dollar amount, and we’ll make sure they walk away from the table with funds to spend at the farmers market,” said Jacquelyn Evers, the executive director of The Land Connection.

Evers said during the 2018-19 government shutdown, emergency funds were used to keep SNAP alive.

“That’s obviously not happening,” Evers said. “So, I do imagine if even a federal court does say it’s illegal to withhold SNAP benefits and they need to reverse that, that it will take some time to see SNAP allocations reallocated.”

And, as the program’s future is up in the air, Griffin said she doesn’t want to think about what the next few weeks could look like.

“I think it’s going to be really, really rough, that’s all I can say,” Griffin said. “It’s kind of scary to just think about it.”