The Agriculture Department said it can't use contingency funds to pay for SNAP benefits, contradicting earlier guidance that the money was available.

A new lawsuit by Democratic state officials seeks to uncork emergency money to help tens of millions of Americans keep buying food for their families after federal SNAP funding is expected run dry Saturday due to the U.

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.

With benefits expected to run out Saturday because of the government shutdown, Democratic leaders of 25 states allege that the USDA is required to keep providing funds.

The Senate failed for a 13th time on advancing a GOP funding bill that would end the government shutdown, now on Day 28. Follow live updates here.

Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food assistance program is expected to run out after Nov. 1 if the government remains shut. The bill Schmidt will cosponsor, H.R. 5822, would continue SNAP funding for Kansans in need.

Governor Glenn Youngkin is creating a state-based system to fill the gap for people who are in need of food assistance.

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.