đ Share this article Nutrition Assistance Scheduled to Expire for Tens of Millions Amid Prolonged Federal Shutdown Federal agriculture authorities declared recently that nutrition assistance payments through a critical national support systems are not going out during the coming month amid the persistent government funding lapse. Impasse Persists Into 25th Day The federal closure was in its 25th day as officials revealed the news, coming after demands from hundreds of Congressional Democrats asking the department to access reserve accounts to cover November's food assistance. âUltimately, the well has run dry,â the department confirmed. âNow, no payments will be distributedâ starting next month. Millions Affected More than 41 million individuals count on these food benefits, per the USDA. Various areas, including New Mexico, dependence on this assistance reaches one-fifth of the population. A memo obtained by a major news agency revealed that USDA officials chose not to tap reserve funds to cover next month's assistance. Partisan Impasse Republicans and Democrats are still at odds over how to fund and reopen federal agencies. Remarks from the director at a budget research center noted that the White House had opportunities to prepare in advance to avoid interruption in payments. âOfficials were able and expected to acted weeks ago to be prepared to utilize available money,â the remarks concluded. âRather, it may choose not to use them for potential political benefitâ as conservative leaders work to influence Democratic senators to support a spending bill that would resume government operations. Emergency Measures Executives in Louisiana and Virginia activated emergency protocols this week to make money available for hunger relief in anticipation of nutrition assistance payments stopping in November.