American Red Cross Steps Up As Government Shutdown Impacts Military Pay, SNAP

The American Red Cross is among the organizations nationwide that are coming to military service members’ aid in light of the ongoing government shutdown and potential missed paychecks.

Disagreements between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have resulted in now the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the 28-day mark on Wednesday with no end in sight as negotiations among legislators remain generally nonexistent.

Concerns have escalated. After the Trump administration shifted $8 billion from military research and development funds to pay the nation’s approximate 1.3 million active-duty members, those same members could start missing pay this Friday. Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday he believed that members would be paid at the end of this week.

An American Red Cross spokesperson told Military.com that they remain “committed to delivering our lifesaving mission without interruption” during the shutdown. The organization does not rely on federal funding to sustain its core operations.

“We do, however, work closely with federal partners, particularly in blood collection efforts,” they said. “This October, dozens of blood drives held at federal agencies, government organizations or military bases have been canceled, resulting in more than 1,000 uncollected donations. We are actively taking steps to mitigate these disruptions to ensure patients continue to receive the blood products they need.

“Additionally, the Red Cross stands ready to assist service members in close coordination with military aid societies and their support programs currently in place. We will continue to monitor and assess needs for affected military members and their families throughout the shutdown.”

In areas like Oklahoma City, food and hygiene drives have been scheduled to assist military communities.

“The Red Cross helps members of the military, veterans, their families and caregivers cope with the challenges of service,” said Marama Bayles-Raleigh, Red Cross Regional Director of Service to the Armed Forces and International Services, according to local FOX 25. “Our military partners alerted us to the uncertainty that military members face in the days ahead. Together, we’re encouraging communities to come together to support them and offer some peace of mind.”

SNAP Expiration May Impact 42 Million Americans

In addition to military pay, Americans on food assistance are also at peril. The approximate 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at this juncture soon won’t have those funds available after the Trump administration rejected using more than $5 billion in contingency funds.

Funding for SNAP, which provides assistance mainly to seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities, is set to expire Nov. 1. The Great Depression-era program has traditionally been a refuge in moments like these.

The effects of the almost one-month-long shutdown were felt in the early days.

Food pantry visits from military families increased by double digits in some pockets of the country, as the shutdown combined with higher grocery prices overall have put families in and out of the military in a financial bind.

“Starting last week at our normal food operations, we saw an increase in demand,” Dorene Ocamb, chief development and brand officer of ASYMCA, told Military.com earlier this month. “As a result, we ran out of food a little more quickly than normal. We had about a 34% increase in Killeen, Texas, which was the first sort of food distribution after the shutdown happened.