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The impending suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, set to begin on Saturday, is expected to hit the Bronx, New York, particularly hard. Representative Ritchie Torres has voiced concerns, urging the Trump Administration to use contingency funds to maintain SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown.
According to the Bronx Times, over 40 percent of Bronx residents rely on SNAP, making the area one of the most vulnerable in New York City. The suspension is part of broader cuts proposed in President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which aims to reduce government spending, including $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Torres criticized the bill, describing it as a "catastrophe for the Bronx."
The SNAP suspension has sparked legal action, with New York joining 24 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for what they argue is an unlawful halt to the program. The lawsuit claims that the USDA has sufficient contingency funds to prevent the suspension but has chosen not to use them. The Milwaukee Community Journal reports that the lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, accuses the USDA of violating federal law by denying food assistance to millions.
As the shutdown continues, food banks are bracing for increased demand. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $30 million in state funds to provide meals, but she acknowledges that state resources cannot fully compensate for the federal cuts. The situation has drawn criticism from various state officials, who argue that the federal government's inaction is causing unnecessary hardship.
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