BATON ROUGE — Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday declaring a state of emergency in Louisiana due to concerns that the ongoing federal government shutdown could disrupt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for nearly 800,000 residents.
Executive Order JML 25-123, effective from Friday through Nov. 4, cites what the governor calls the "Schumer Shutdown," referencing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The order states that the federal shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has resulted in a lapse of federal funding for USDA programs, including SNAP.
According to the executive order, approximately 792,769 Louisianians rely on SNAP benefits, including more than 120,000 disabled residents, 356,825 children, and 88,208 elderly residents. The order notes that on Oct. 10, the USDA directed states to hold November SNAP benefits due to the shutdown.
"We should not allow our elderly, disabled, or children to go hungry because of the Washington, D.C. Democrats' failure to reopen the federal government," Landry said in a statement. "Our social security net is supposed to help the most vulnerable, and we will try to accomplish this with today's action."
The emergency declaration allows the Louisiana Legislature to authorize an appropriation from the state's Revenue Stabilization Fund to provide emergency SNAP assistance. Louisiana's Constitution allows such appropriations with consent of two-thirds of the elected members of each house, even while out of session.
The Legislature is currently convened in a special legislative session, making it possible to arrange a vote quickly, according to the order.
Louisiana joins several other states taking action as the federal shutdown enters its fourth week. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, also declared a state of emergency Thursday, saying SNAP benefits would run out for more than 850,000 Virginians starting Nov. 1.
Multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Texas, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey, have issued warnings that November SNAP benefits may be delayed or unavailable if the shutdown continues. Pennsylvania has already halted some SNAP payments starting Oct. 16.
The federal government shutdown began after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. Republicans in Congress have proposed continuing resolutions to fund the government through November, while Democrats have sought to attach provisions related to health care subsidies.
The impasse has now stretched into its 24th day, making it the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The Senate has repeatedly failed to advance bills that would reopen the government, with votes falling short of the 60 needed to proceed.
According to the USDA's Oct. 10 letter to state agencies, there will be "insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals" nationwide if the shutdown continues. While SNAP has a contingency fund of approximately $6 billion, November benefits are expected to total around $8 billion.
In his statement, Landry also emphasized job creation efforts in Louisiana, saying his administration has created more than 70,000 new job opportunities since he took office.
"Wages are on the rise, and our economic outlook has never looked better," Landry said. "This is how we move people from dependence to independence. I urge those who are able bodied to continue to strive to get off SNAP and similar programs. Due to the Democrat's political games these programs are not reliable."
The executive order includes provisions limiting price gouging during the declared state of emergency and directs all state departments and agencies to cooperate in actions the state may take in response to the situation.
The order will remain in effect through Tuesday, Nov. 4, unless amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded earlier by the governor.
More than 500,000 federal workers nationwide missed their first full paycheck Friday as the shutdown continued, with no immediate signs of a resolution between congressional Republicans and Democrats.
