The interruption of federal food aid exacerbates the suffering of millions of Americans

American Gennaro Alfonso stood in the Kia Forum neighborhood, in the Inglewood area in southern California, wearing a hat and a shirt of his favorite team, the Dodgers, while the team’s flag was flying from a truck parked next to him, after winning a global match.

However, Alfonso’s joy at winning did not last long. The next morning, as the clock was approaching 11, the seventy-year-old man had not yet eaten, and he showed signs of sadness and exhaustion. He raised his half-empty blue plastic cup of coffee, with tears streaming from his eyes, saying: “This is all I have… I don’t work, my wife doesn’t work, and there is no work. The prices are very high.”

Alfonso was one of thousands of people who attended a food distribution event at the Kia Forum, organized by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, on the first day that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding was cut.

Federal food aid to millions of low-income Americans, including about 5.5 million people in California, was halted after the federal government shutdown led to food distribution offices ceasing to operate.

Although a federal court decision was issued ordering the US Department of Agriculture to use about five billion dollars in emergency funds to finance the program during the closure period, implementation of the decision was postponed until the appropriate disbursement mechanism was determined.

Experts believed that this judicial decision represents a temporary victory for millions of Americans who depend on food aid, but it does not mean that they will completely avoid the painful period of interruption, which is why local food banks rushed to prepare for a new wave of requests.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office helped file a lawsuit as part of a coalition of Democratic-led states against the Trump administration over cutting food aid, said that the court ruling will not lead to the immediate reloading of amounts on aid cards such as “Calfresh” or other cards.

He added: “Our estimates indicate that it may take about a week to recharge and use the cards, which means that people will suffer from food shortages during that period.”

On the morning of a new day, dozens of volunteers from the local food bank in Los Angeles gathered in front of the main warehouse, preparing for what may be the longest government closure since 2018, when the closure lasted 35 days.

During that day, volunteers distributed about 5,000 food containers to cars lined up in long lines. Each container contained enough materials to prepare about 40 meals, which included whole grains, fresh produce, “tortillas,” canned tuna, yogurt, and frozen chicken.

“This is what large-scale disaster relief looks like,” said Los Angeles Food Bank CEO Michael Flood. “It’s all about getting as much aid as possible to as many people as possible, safely and as quickly as possible.”

According to statements by City Governor Karen Bass, about 600,000 food aid beneficiaries live in the city of Los Angeles. She said in a statement last Friday: “No person in Los Angeles should worry about not getting food, due to force majeure beyond their control.”

For her part, Diana Jackson, a 70-year-old volunteer, was helping load food boxes into cars near her home. She explained that her son had been standing in line since the early morning hours to get help, adding: “He has seven children, and he was determined to come to secure food for his family.”

In contrast, USDA lawyers argued that the $5.25 billion allocated for emergencies is primarily intended to confront natural disasters and other out-of-control crises, and that its use in this context may cause subsequent financial disruptions. About the Los Angeles Times

• 600,000 food aid beneficiaries live in Los Angeles.