The shutdown will halt about $8 billion a month in federal food assistance. Walmart captures 24% of all SNAP shopper spending, according to Numerator’s 2025 SNAP Evolution report—triple Kroger’s share and far ahead of Costco, Amazon and Sam’s Club.

Walmart was the first retailer to accept SNAP online in all 50 states in 2023 and launched the Walmart+ Assist program, which offers half-price memberships for those receiving aid.

“If SNAP payments stop, spending by the lowest income groups will fall,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of data and analytics firm GlobalData. “Walmart gets a plurality of the spending, so it will be hit the hardest.”

This was somewhat epiphanic for me.

I already recognized companies such as Walmart were subsidizing pay through social programs such as SNAP and essential funneling/laundering tax payer money to their executives.

This headline made me further realize they’re not only making taxpayers subsidize wages, they’ve also effectively turned the USD into a form of company scrip. While that scrip can be spent at some other locations I bet a large percent of funneled right back to e.g. Walmart itself. If you already work at Walmart it makes spending your SNAP benefit there easier.

        • Riskable@programming.dev
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          1 day ago

          Trump administration: “Good! Maybe some of those poors will die and save us the trouble of removing their tents!” [roflol]

        • ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          22 hours ago

          the USDA is operated by thousands of people, the head is appointed by trump.
          if the head of the usda is facing jail for contempt vs maybe getting fired, he’ll fund snap.
          and that’s exactly what happened today, ebt was funded. trump is appealing but the money is there.
          my state funded it and was waiting for a commitment by the usda, apparently they got it.
          trump and his administration have complied with other court orders, they’ve defied some… but they eventually give in when appeals run out.
          a big part of the shutdown is that they’ve slipped in legislation to strip judges of their powers to enforce their orders… such as nationwide injunctions, holding people in contempt, and sending federal marshals out to arrest people in contempt of court… they currently still have those powers.
          it’s quite complicated.

          • warbond@lemmy.world
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            21 hours ago

            Was it the head of the USDA withholding funds? I was under the impression that the administration said there were no funds, and then there was no way to release the funds, and then that it would be too complex to do so with any expediency.

            Why are they appealing the ruling, do you think?

            • ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              19 hours ago

              The head of the USDA does what Trump says or she gets fired… but she’s still the one with direct control.
              The USDA already has a contingency fund, for this very sort of thing. They were refusing to fund SNAP until a judge forced them too…. they had this money set aside before the government shutdown, and December is still uncertain.
              Why they’re appealing it is, id assume, what they’ve been saying about hating all social safety net type programs, and really it’s about rich people paying taxes….
              they’re vindictive enough to use any opportunity to fuck with any program as much as they can get away with…

      • Afaithfulnihilist@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        The only naive oversimplification here is believing that when the USDA is ordered to do something by a judge that means Trump automatically does it.

        Snap is dark. There was a court order to turn on the lights. Those lights have not turned on yet. Don’t be pedantic if you can’t bring the receipts.

      • Gerudo@lemmy.zip
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        1 day ago

        But that is exactly what is happening. They are ignoring the courts.

          • Gerudo@lemmy.zip
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            19 hours ago

            https://www.newsweek.com/snap-tracker-states-that-have-paid-benefits-november-11010336

            Only 8 states have been funded…and as quoted in the article, “although it remains unclear when full benefits will be paid and where the funding will come from”.

            So no, it isn’t clear at all if it is being federally funded, or if the states are banking on getting paid back.

            So please refrain from sounding like “I got mine so fuck off”

              • Gerudo@lemmy.zip
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                17 hours ago

                As of yesterday, I knew of none that were funded, hence my statement.

                That article was posted just a few hours ago. When I read the article, and then researched more, I then stated 8 states. I learned new information and updated my stance. As I quoted as well, even the states don’t know when or where the funds are coming from, just that they are choosing to fund it, which is why not every state has funded the benefit.

                • ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  17 hours ago

                  weird roundabout way of saying “i was wrong”.
                  “updated my stance” = moved the goalposts.
                  what are you even talking about anymore? you’re having entirely fictional arguments with yourself.
                  also, blocked, you dour bastard.

          • FridaySteve@lemmy.world
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            22 hours ago

            No state has received full funding for their snap/ebt as of this morning. Some funds are being released by the federal government to states but not fully, not uniformly, and with serious delay. I can’t find any credible evidence that anyone has definitely received their full November benefits as scheduled. In fact, the USDA has told states they can’t fund the cards and then be reimbursed by the federal government under current rules and the USDA has stated, as of this morning, that they will not fully fund benefits due to the shutdown.

            I don’t believe you are telling the truth.

        • ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          22 hours ago

          they have defied and appealed rulings, some have been upheld and complied with….
          what you’re talking about is what they want to do and one reason why the government is shut down right now.