Federal Funding
SNAP benefits set to lapse Nov. 1 as shutdown drags on; states rush stopgaps
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With the U.S. government shutdown stretching toward a fifth week, the Agriculture Department says it cannot fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, putting roughly 42 million people at risk of a lapse starting Nov. 1. More than two dozen states sued to compel the Trump administration to use contingency reserves, while governors and agencies roll out emergency measures from food-bank support to state-funded bridge payments.
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on a spending package that would slash $125 million from funds allocated for replacing toxic lead pipes. This move, following a House vote, repurposes money from the 2021 infrastructure law amid pushback from advocates and lawmakers. The cuts come as states like Illinois urgently seek more support to address widespread lead contamination in drinking water.
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Five New England states have initiated a $450 million program to install over 500,000 heat pumps in homes, aiming to reduce fossil fuel dependence and emissions. Funded by federal grants from the Inflation Reduction Act, the effort addresses barriers like high costs and cold-weather misconceptions. The initiative marks progress amid federal clean energy challenges.