Khaberni - As the federal government shutdown in the United States reaches one month, millions of poor Americans who mainly rely on food and health assistance programs, in addition to travelers and students, are expected to be adversely affected.
Millions of Americans are now threatened with the risk of hunger, as lawmakers from both parties have grown increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the imminent stoppage of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program "SNAP," popularly known as food stamps, which was set to have millions lose their benefits today, Saturday, according to a report by "NBC News."
40 million hungry
More than 40 million Americans rely on the SNAP program to buy food, raising concerns among elected officials about the possibility of millions suffering from hunger. Governors and other officials from dozens of states across the country have declared that they will allocate emergency funds in their states to assist families dependent on this vital program.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell issued a decision to distribute funds from the emergency fund "as soon as possible," in preparation for the payment of SNAP benefits on November 1st.
Despite the court ruling issued just hours before the deadline set for November 1st, SNAP benefits are likely to be delayed.
"Head Start" under threat
The ramifications of the shutdown also affect the "Head Start" program, which provides free educational programs, health screenings, and meals to young children from low-income families. So far, more than 130 "Head Start" programs, serving nearly 59,000 children across the country, have yet to receive their federal funding and will close their doors if they cannot find alternative funding during the shutdown period.
The effects of the shutdown extend to health insurance, and today, open enrollment for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act begins, covering more than 24 million Americans.
Health and travel at the heart of the storm
According to experts, the shutdown could lead to a 114% increase on average in insurance premiums for Americans using the Affordable Care Act, threatening millions with the loss of health insurance over the next eight years.
Americans traveling by air this week may experience flight delays due to staff shortages at airports, as federal employee pay continues to be disrupted.
By next Wednesday, if the two parties do not reach a budget agreement, the current government shutdown will set a record as the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States, surpassing the shutdown that began on December 22, 2018, during Trump's first term, which lasted 35 days.
