USDA threatens to stop funding SNAP accounts
The CEO of the Foodbank Network of Somerset County says that would be catastrophic.
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Funding for SNAP accounts could be put on hold next week, which would force 800,000 families in New Jersey to rely on fewer groceries and more help from foodbanks and food pantries.
The threat comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which says it will stop funding if states like New Jersey don’t provide data on the people signed up for SNAP and work to stop any fraud within the system.
It would be a hardship for New Jersey residents who rely on SNAP. People who had to deal with a halt to funding during the government shutdown.
In Somerset County, 12,000 people could lose their SNAP benefit.
The CEO of the Foodbank Network of Somerset County says that would be catastrophic.
The pantry already sees 200 visitors per day picking up food for families.
CEO Steve Katz believes people shouldn’t be punished with a loss of food.
“These are people that work, some of them are over employed because they have more than one job to make ends meet,” said Katz.
Katz says his numbers are steadily growing.
In 2021, the network had 12,000 client visits. In 2023, that rose to 27,000 client visits. In 2024, it was up to 32,000.
In a recent post on social media, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called out 21 blue states for not providing data.
“No data, No money- it’s that simple. If a state won’t share data on criminal use of SNAP benefits, it won’t get a dollar of federal SNAP administrative funding," said Rollins.
News 12 will find out on Monday if the assistance with food will be stopped.
