The Federal Reserve announced a small interest rate cut Wednesday, as the government shutdown hit its 29th day. The Federal Open Market Committee, the panel of Fed officials in charge of monetary

The clock is ticking for four major social safety net programs that keep tens of millions of struggling Americans fed and warm, as well as provide early education services.

The government shutdown has entered day 29 as more standalone bills are being proposed to alleviate some of the effects of the shutdown.

The nearly monthlong government shutdown will cost the United States between $7 billion and $14 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in a new report released on Wednesday.

The plan to fund SNAP amid the federal government shutdown faces an uncertain path in a politically divided Michigan Legislature.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced that Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) will deliver benefits to people who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the shutdown hasn’t ended by Nov. 1, VENA will begin weekly distributions on Monday.

The plan detailed how the agency would use the contingency fund provided by Congress to continue benefits. The fund holds roughly $6 billion, about two-thirds of a month of SNAP benefits, meaning USDA would still have to reshuffle an additional $3 billion to cover the remainder for November.

An official with the Arkansas Department of Health says the nutrition assistance program for low-income women and children may only be operational until mid-November if the government shutdown continues.