SNAP funding lapse could leave over one million Native people without food aid

More than one million American Indian and Alaska Native people could lose access to food assistance if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, runs out of funding on Nov. 1, according to ICT. A U.S. Department of Agriculture memo issued Oct. 10 confirmed current funding is set to lapse if the government shutdown continues.

Caddo Nation Chairman Bobby Gonzalez said the potential loss of funding poses serious risks for Native families already facing food insecurity. “It’s just a matter of time that those food banks start running out of food,” he was quoted as saying. Some tribes, including the Comanche Nation, are preparing to use tribal funds to provide food vouchers or expand distribution programs. SNAP benefits support 24% of Native households and help sustain small businesses on reservations that depend on the program for income.