CSPI urges swift shutdown resolution to ensure critical food safety and nutrition programs are operational

With Congress unable to reach a spending deal over preventing increased healthcare costs, the U.S. has entered a government shutdown. The American people are going to pay the price for partisan disagreement. The longer a shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of impacts across our nation’s food system. CSPI encourages Congress to reach a bipartisan funding agreement as soon as possible.

Government shutdowns can threaten food safety efforts operated through the Food and Drug Administration’s Human Foods Program, reducing the program to only emergency inspections. Staff furloughs can also halt or delay longer-term work to reduce chronic, diet-related diseases, review food chemical safety, and prevent foodborne illness. 

If the shutdown lasts more than a few weeks and the Trump Administration does not provide additional resources via contingency reserves from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), states will be challenged to keep critical federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) running smoothly. It is unclear how long states can sustain these programs without Congressionally approved support. However, for now, SNAP beneficiaries do not need to worry about their benefits for October.

Chaos, uncertainty, and division are not part of rational policy-making and good governance. Congress should move swiftly to reach a spending agreement and get back to governing.