Dear John,

Instead of focusing on what to carve on a pumpkin, finalizing neighborhood trick or treating plans, or putting the finishing touches on creative costumes, millions of parents are worrying about how they will put food on the table, whether their Head Start early education program will be open on Monday, and if they need to drop their family’s health insurance because the cost is too high.   

Congressional leaders still have not made progress toward reopening the government and stopping health care costs from skyrocketing. And now, the Trump administration is refusing to release emergency funding to make sure SNAP and WIC benefits are paid in November. 

Halloween jump scares should be a fun distraction. Instead, the real scare is that Congress has let the government shutdown drag on for nearly a month. That means: 

• Children and families will go hungry. Once November starts, 42 million people, including 16 million children, who rely on SNAP are at risk of losing the food assistance they need. The Trump administration is legally required to release contingency funding to cover SNAP benefits during a government shutdown.

• Pregnant women and babies won’t be able to afford essential nutritious food. Seven million mothers, pregnant women, and children rely on WIC to access nutritious food, infant formula, and more. Emergency funding has kept WIC open for now, but time is ticking for the Trump administration to provide additional funds to keep benefits in place for November.

• Millions of people will lose their health insurance. November 1 is the start of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans and families are being hit with astronomical increases because of expiring health care subsidies. In many cases, premiums are doubling or even tripling, which means 22 million people are at risk of being faced with health insurance premiums that are out of reach or losing their health care altogether. People shouldn’t have to choose between health insurance or providing for their families.

• Children will lose access to affordable early childhood education. 140 Head Start programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico that support over 65,000 children are in jeopardy of closing their doors on November 1 without additional funding leaving children without affordable access to education, parents unable to work without care for their kids, and leaving Head Start teachers without a paycheck. 

This Halloween, let Congress know you are tired of their tricks. Tell them to ensure emergency funding for SNAP and WIC benefits is released, protect our health care coverage, keep children in Head Start, and reopen the government.

With hopes for all treats and no tricks,

Sarah Yergeau
she/her/hers
Director of Campaigns
National Women's Law Center