A shopper who receives SNAP benefits slides an EBT card at a checkout counter in a Washington, D.C., grocery store in December 2024. (Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture)
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Thousands of Kentuckians could go without food benefits if the federal government shutdown continues into November.
In his recent Team Kentucky update, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly referred to as SNAP — will run out of funds in a week-and-a-half if the shutdown persists. Beshear said the state cannot afford to cover the cost of SNAP benefits if the federal funding is not there.
“It appears at least as of today, we will not receive those funds from the federal government,” Beshear said Monday. “For November, more than 600,000 Kentuckians rely on SNAP. That’s 1 in 8 of our people, many of which are children. This is a scary and stressful time, and Team Kentucky is committed to processing benefits the moment the federal government provides the funds.”
For Barren County, 6,145 people were supported by SNAP benefits in 2024, according to Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which also states total SNAP spending in the county amounts to roughly $12 million.
SNAP is a federal program that’s primarily administered by individual states. In Kentucky, they are administered through the Department of Community Based Services through the Division of Family Support.
Executive Director in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Office of Public Affairs Kendra Steele wrote in an email to Glasgow News 1 that people should continue to use their benefits through the end of the month.
“The Trump administration has prohibited the federal and state government from providing SNAP benefits beginning in November due to the federal shutdown,” Steele wrote.
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