DOVER, D.E. (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer has declared a state of emergency so that state funding can be used to support SNAP recipients in Delaware through November, as federal funds are set to run out on the first of the month.
With 120,000 Delaware residents on SNAP, Meyer said it was necessary to take action.
“We are in crisis, from the government shutdown to withheld federal funds, things have never been more serious,” he said.
Instead of the monthly allotment mandated by the federal government, Meyer said Delaware plans to provide the benefit on a week-by-week basis for the next month.
The governor also asked people who are able to donate to food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, and food assistance programs at churches, synagogues and mosques in the state.
“This is a situation when you're literally looking at Delawareans who may not be able to feed their families, caused by the Republicans in Washington,” said Meyer. “We need to act, and so we're going line by line through our state operating budget, seeing what cash we have available.”
In addition to funding the program for November, Delaware joined Pennsylvania, New Jersey and 22 other states in suing the federal government to release SNAP funding and is also using state funds to help food banks and pantries in the state.
Meyer, a Democrat, said he’s also calling the legislature into session to address a $400 million revenue shortfall he said comes from the Trump tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations.
“We got to make sure we're prioritizing the dining rooms, the classrooms and the emergency rooms over that, that gold ballroom in Washington,” said the governor.