News Summary

• The 43-day government shutdown is over, but its reverberations for millions of Americans continue.
• While the government was closed, the 42 million Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to help them afford food had no idea when they would receive the funds.
• Some states, following instructions from the federal government, delayed sending out November benefits, which forced Americans to stretch their already meager benefits over more days and weeks.
• Many turned to food banks, which have been overburdened since the Trump administration cut programs that helped them access funds.