As I write this commentary on Sunday, November 2nd, the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, has an account balance of $0. Fast forward two days, to the morning I am recording this commentary, and President Trump has decided to adhere to the latest ruling from federal judges mandating that he use the $4.6 billion of contingency funding to cover November benefit payments.
However, according to Patrick Penn, a Department of Agriculture official who oversees SNAP, this will only “cover 50% of eligible households’ current allotments.” It is anyone’s guess when those allotments will be distributed to those who need them most.
In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker has pledged $20 million in emergency funding – from the state’s “rainy day fund” - for food banks to soften the blow. While I applaud this effort, it’s only a temporary fix. Across the nation, millions of Americans are about to go hungry, and it’s entirely avoidable.
This crisis did not appear out of thin air. Going back decades, conservative politicians have celebrated cutting social programs as fiscal virtue. Now, the far right cheers the SNAP shutdown, echoing familiar myths about fraud or moral decay. Some complain that food stamps buy “luxuries” like cookies or Dijon mustard. Others are more blunt —they simply believe the government should not feed anyone at all.
This is the first time in SNAP’s 60-year history that benefits have been halted during a government shutdown. In Illinois alone, nearly two million residents depend on the program to help feed their families. Even when the federal government reopens, SNAP will not return to normal, as its funding has already been reduced under the president’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” budget.
Here in McDonough County, 19.9 percent of residents live at or below the poverty line. That’s just a bit below $27,500 for a family of four. Many others are among the working poor, earning just enough to disqualify them from assistance while still struggling to afford rent, medicine, and food.
The situation worsened this spring when $10 million in USDA food assistance was abruptly cut as part of the “DOGE cuts.” That decision ended programs that supplied surplus commodities—meat, nuts, beans, and more—to local pantries and schools.
Meanwhile, Washington remains paralyzed. Republicans and Democrats are entrenched in their shutdown battle lines, while the suffering of ordinary people seems irrelevant.
This is a tragic commentary on the state of American governance. We are witnessing a system that has normalized cruelty, where hunger is used as a political weapon. In my opinion, much of the dysfunction stems from a president who tramples constitutional limits and treats congressional authority as his own. But Congress, too, bears responsibility for its inaction and complicity.
The United States has the resources to ensure that no one goes hungry. I can already hear those who disagree, saying, “It’s more complicated than just funding SNAP.” And they’re right—it is more complicated. Senate Democrats continue to reject a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won’t back down from demands that Congress address health care benefits. Here’s the deal: choosing not to use the resources we have is not a failure of policy—it is a failure of morality. As the late Dr. Paul Farmer reminded us, “The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.” Health care—and by extension, the basic means to live, such as food—is a fundamental human right.
Forgottonia is taking care of its own as it always has. Our local grocery store, Hy-Vee, is committed to helping out our communities in two ways.
The first is a Donation Bag, which can be purchased for $5 or $10 either in-store or online. Each bag contains essential pantry items that will be delivered directly to local food banks.
They are also offering community meals through November 7th. For $3 customers can purchase a hot meal from 4-7 pm. Children under 12 can eat for free in Macomb, Canton, and Quincy.
If you live in McDonough County and can help, please do. You can also donate directly to your local food pantry. Those include the Good Food Pantry, the Emergency Cupboard at First Christian Church, the Salvation Army, the Crossing Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, and the WIU Food Pantry.
Every dollar, every can of food, every act of solidarity matters right now.
Heather McIlvaine-Newsad is a Professor of Anthropology at Western Illinois University. Her research focuses on collaborative action for sustainability.
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the university or TSPR.
Diverse viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged.