Eric Ueland, Republican staff director, Senate Budget Committee holds a copy of President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 federal budget, before distributing them to congressional staffers on Capitol Hill in Washington, in May. PICTURE: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais.
Anti-hunger activists in the US are going hungry today Monday (21st August), in hopes of preventing deep budget cuts that they say could make millions more go hungry next year.
Religious leaders and others will fast for a day in opposition to budget cuts US President Donald Trump proposed for federal nutritional assistance programs – cuts they fear will swamp private charities that feed the poor.
The group, organised by Bread for the World, which advocates for government food aid, has fasted each month since May – first for three consecutive days, but now once a month – and intends to continue until the budget is finalised.
“The Bible makes clear that nations, kings and rulers are really judged by one thing – and that’s on how they treat the poorest and most vulnerable,” said Rev Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a Christian advocacy group. “That’s the test. That’s the moral test of leaders. This budget is an assault on the very people that Jesus told us to help. It’s clear as clear can be.”
Federal nutritional aid programs provide nearly 20 times more food assistance than private charities do.
The budget proposed by Mr Trump in May called for $US200 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). This follows an $US11 billion cut to SNAP in November 2013 and an $US8 billion cut to SNAP in February 2014.
Were the cuts to be implemented, the 350,000 religious congregations in the US would each have to raise an additional $US55,000 every year for the next decade to make up for the reduced benefits, Bread for the World calculated. Congress has to approve a federal spending bill by 30th September when the federal fiscal year ends; without a spending bill in place, government services would shut down.
“We believe we can end hunger by 2030 but not if we’re cutting programs like SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid,” said Christine Melendez Ashley, deputy director for Bread for the World.
The federal cuts then would increase the burden on private aid.
“We already feel heavily extended in the communities that we do serve,” said Minhaj Hassan, a spokesperson for Islamic Relief USA. “Additional cuts to various federal social service programs would place a greater burden on organisations we support, since they would likely turn to us after that safety net provided by the federal government is removed.”
Advocates who are fasting say the practice helps remind them why they are working to prevent the cuts.
“I encourage people to undertake it,” said Most Reverend Richard Pates, the Catholic Bishop of Des Moines. “It enables us to come to a personal reflection and identification with those in need. This awareness creates an urgency to help.”
The group is also focusing on mobilising their communities to reach out to their members of Congress to work against the cuts and to join in the fast.
