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The office that oversees the Federal Nutrition, Companion Nutrition for Children (SNAP) program and related programs has been reduced by 95% as a result of the partial closure of the government.
CNN marked by a statement by the Department of Agriculture, which detailed when certain programs and resources would be affected by the closure. According to the breakdown, the office that oversees the SNAP, as well as the special supplementary nutrition program for women, infants and children, would see its staff reduced by 95% by Wednesday.
The benefits of SNAP should remain available. in January, and infant nutrition programs are expected to continue in February if closure continues. But the status of WIC, the supplementary food program for commodities and the food distribution program on Indian reserves is uncertain. HuffPost reports
that the Department of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, was trying to appease the concerns in a statement trying to reassure Americans: l & # 39; USDA will "use existing resources" to fulfill its responsibilities.
"The federal government may be short of funds, but this will not relieve the USDA of its responsibility to protect life and property through essential services. we provide, "said Perdue. "Our employees work hard every day to help our customers and the farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers who depend on our programs. During a stop, we will make the best use of our existing resources to continue to provide the high quality service expected by people. "
The Department of Agriculture added on Twitter that" when the government enters into funding, we will maintain the key services we provide to ensure the safety of people. This includes inspection services for meat, poultry and processed eggs. Part of our mission is to protect the US food supply. "
The closure also affected other key departments. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 8,000 of its workers – about 25% of the entire agency – were fired until the end of the closing.
According to HHS the FDA will continue to respond to high-risk emergencies and recalls and will continue to reduce its expenditures.
"Thousands of my colleagues at @HHSGov work regularly on weekends and holidays, and many are responsible for working during stops, to fulfill Our mission is to protect and improve the health and wellbeing to be of all Americans, "said HHS Secretary General Alex Azar on Monday.
The FDA website is currently posting the following message: "FDA Lapse in Financing." The message states that "the activities of the agencies are continuing to the extent permitted by law, such as the activities necessary to deal with the imminent threats to the safety of human life and activities funded by deferred user fees. "
In total, approximately 800,000 federal employees are not paid during the closure and more than half of them will have to stay home as long as the closure continues. Congress has traditionally voted for the reimbursement of employees who have not been paid at previous closures, but this money is not guaranteed.
Work during closure without pay. Active duty members will also remain on duty, but their treatment will be delayed.
Despite a lot of uncertainty and hundreds of thousands of families affected, the closure is no end. President Trump insisted that he will refuse to sign a spending bill that does not include additional funds for the border wall project. The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan spending bill that Trump refused to sign because it did not contain money for the wall.
"I can not tell you when the government will be open," Trump told reporters. Tuesday. "I can tell you that it will not be open until we have a wall, a fence, as they would like to call it."
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