The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, ordered state agencies this Friday to fully issue November benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), on which thousands of New Yorkers rely. This initiative comes after the Trump administration appealed a federal court order that required it to restore funding for the food program, which 42 million people depend on. "We expect New Yorkers to begin accessing their benefits as of Sunday," Hochul stated. The government alleges that the benefits are stalled due to the federal government shutdown and that there is no way for the department to find the missing money. However, on Friday afternoon, the Department of Agriculture, responsible for the program known as "food stamps," indicated that it is working to issue the subsidies in full. The government's decision not to fund the program during the shutdown has caused anxiety and fear among beneficiaries. In response, New York's iconic Cathedral of St. John the Divine has been distributing food and donating $100 cards to help New Yorkers, with long lines all day at its food bank.
