Joe Biden Says Millions of US Citizens Are Threatened with Starvation Due to Government Shutdown

Joe Biden Says Millions of US Citizens Are Threatened with Starvation Due to Government Shutdown

US President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. A federal government shutdown could lead to a rapid loss of food aid for millions of people. 

- The President of the United States (US), Joe Biden, warned that a shutdown of the federal government could cause widespread suffering. 

Joe Biden said the policy could result in the rapid loss of food aid for nearly 7 million low-income women and children. This was conveyed by Joe Biden at a meeting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Monday (25/9/2023). 

According to him, Congress's failure to fund the federal government will have devastating impacts on Black communities, including reductions in nutritional benefits, hazardous waste site inspections, and enforcement of fair housing laws. 

Joe Biden added that he and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, had agreed several months ago regarding the level of government spending. 

“We agreed, we shook hands,” he said, reported by Reuters. 

"Now a small group of extreme Republicans in the House of Representatives don't want to live up to that deal, and everyone in America is paying the price," continued Joe Biden. 

Said the US Secretary of Agriculture

The Government Shutdown will 'immediately' end benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), said US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. 

Echoing Joe Biden, Tom Vilsack said about 7 million mothers and children would lose government benefits to buy food if the federal government shut down. "If we close, WIC will close," he said, Monday, quoted by the Morningstar. 

More than half of newborns in the US receive food assistance from WIC in the form of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and even formula. 

“That program will expire, if you will, or stop immediately when the shutdown occurs,” Tom Vilsack told reporters. 

Tom Vilsack speaking on December 11, 2020. (JIM WATSON / AFP)

It is known that the Joe Biden Administration has instructed various agencies to review and update their closure plans. 

Emergency funding at the Department of Agriculture could extend the WIC program for a day or two after closing, and may last up to a week in some states. 

However, the majority of mothers and babies participating in these programs will experience an immediate reduction and elimination of benefits. 

The National WIC Association (NWA) issued a statement last week to urge Congress to reach an agreement. 

They also supported the Biden administration's call in late August for $1.4 billion in additional funding to address rising inflation and increased demand. 

“Without an urgent investment of additional funds, state WIC offices will soon be forced to consider waiting lists of potential participants, a drastic step not seen in nearly 30 years.”

"We cannot cross that line," National WIC Association WIC Council Chair Kate Franken said in a statement. 

Joe Biden Sebut Jutaan Warga AS Terancam Kelaparan akibat Shutdown Pemerintahan

Presiden AS Joe Biden di Ruang Timur Gedung Putih pada 26 Juni 2023 di Washington, DC. Shutdown pemerintahan federal disebut dapat menyebabkan hilangnya bantuan pangan secara cepat bagi jutaan orang. 

 - Presiden Amerika Serikat (AS), Joe Biden, memperingatkan penutupan (shutdown) pemerintahan federal dapat menyebabkan penderitaan yang luas.

Joe Biden menyebut kebijakan itu bisa mengakibatkan hilangnya bantuan pangan secara cepat bagi hampir 7 juta perempuan dan anak-anak berpenghasilan rendah.

Hal itu disampaikan Joe Biden pada pertemuan di Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Senin (25/9/2023).

Menurutnya, kegagalan Kongres dalam mendanai pemerintah federal akan berdampak buruk bagi komunitas Kulit Hitam, termasuk pengurangan tunjangan gizi, inspeksi lokasi limbah berbahaya, dan penegakan Undang-undang perumahan yang adil.

Joe Biden menambahkan, dirinya dan Ketua DPR AS, Kevin McCarthy, telah sepakat beberapa bulan lalu mengenai tingkat pengeluaran pemerintah.

“Kami sepakat, kami berjabat tangan,” katanya, dilansir Reuters.

"Sekarang sekelompok kecil anggota DPR yang ekstrem dari Partai Republik tidak ingin memenuhi kesepakatan itu, dan semua orang di Amerika harus menanggung akibatnya," sambung Joe Biden.

Kata Menteri Pertanian AS

Shutdown Pemerintahan akan 'segera' menghentikan manfaat dari Program Nutrisi Tambahan Khusus untuk Wanita, Bayi dan Anak-anak (WIC), kata Menteri Pertanian AS Tom Vilsack.

Senada dengan Joe Biden, Tom Vilsack mengatakan sekitar 7 juta ibu dan anak akan kehilangan tunjangan pemerintah untuk membeli makanan jika pemerintah federal ditutup.

“Jika kita melakukan penutupan, WIC akan ditutup," ujarnya, Senin, dikutip dari Morningstar.

Lebih dari separuh bayi baru lahir di AS menerima bantuan makanan dari WIC berupa buah segar, sayuran, roti, dan bahkan susu formula.

“Program itu akan habis masa berlakunya, jika Anda mau, atau segera berhenti ketika penutupan terjadi,” ungkap Tom Vilsack kepada wartawan.

Tom Vilsack berbicara pada 11 Desember 2020. (JIM WATSON / AFP)

Diketahui, Pemerintahan Joe Biden telah menginstruksikan berbagai lembaga untuk meninjau dan memperbarui rencana penutupan mereka. Dana darurat di Departemen Pertanian dapat memperpanjang program WIC selama satu atau dua hari setelah penutupan, dan mungkin berlangsung hingga satu minggu di beberapa negara bagian.

Namun, sebagian besar ibu dan bayi yang berpartisipasi dalam program ini akan merasakan pengurangan dan penghapusan segera manfaatnya.

Asosiasi WIC Nasional (NWA) mengeluarkan pernyataan pekan lalu untuk mendesak Kongres mencapai kesepakatan.

Mereka juga mendukung seruan pemerintahan Biden pada akhir Agustus untuk pendanaan tambahan sebesar $1,4 miliar untuk mengatasi kenaikan inflasi dan peningkatan permintaan.

“Tanpa investasi dana tambahan yang mendesak, kantor-kantor WIC di negara bagian akan segera terpaksa mempertimbangkan daftar tunggu calon peserta, sebuah langkah drastis yang belum pernah terlihat dalam hampir 30 tahun."

"Kami tidak bisa melewati batas itu,” ungkap Ketua Dewan WIC Asosiasi WIC Nasional, Kate Franken, dalam sebuah pernyataan.