WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans are at risk of losing critical food assistance from the federal government next month, as the government shutdown reaches the three-week mark.

Roughly 42 million people in the U.S. use the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps.

SNAP is a major piece of the nation's social safety net, touching nearly 1 in 8 people in the country each month. They receive benefits on prepaid cards that they can use for groceries.

The other big pieces of the safety net — Social Security and Medicaid — are expected to continue paying benefits during the shutdown.

But because of the way it's funded, SNAP is vulnerable.

When will SNAP lose funding?

In the accounting year that ended on Sept. 30, 2024, SNAP cost just over $100 billion, inc

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