Debt ceiling deal threatens food assistance for low-income Americans.

The US debt ceiling deal would remove some Americans from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while adding others. The current debt ceiling agreement extends the age range for SNAP benefits to 55, exempting veterans, the homeless, and young adults transitioning out of the foster care system from work requirements. Work requirements for government assistance have a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages, and in the US they have a particularly racist history. Anti-hunger groups don’t think that the increased eligibility will translate into great access to food without further funding for local and state agencies administering these benefits.