Government shutdown worsens hunger crisis

Democrats and Republicans must end the government shutdown which is worsening the hunger crisis. Congress failed to reach agreement to keep the government funded before the midnight deadline on Wednesday leading to the shutdown.

Programs that aid hungry and impoverished families are harmed by the government shutdown as funding runs out. Save the Children warns "If the shutdown persists, millions of children could lose access to healthy food through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and after-school programs funded through Child Care Development Block Grants, among other critical programs and services for kids and families."

With hunger at home and severe food shortages abroad we need our government functioning and working in a bipartisan manner. With federal workers, including military members, not receiving paychecks and some potentially losing their jobs during the shutdown, more people will need food assistance.

"Government shutdowns often have a devastating impact on people who struggle to put food on the table, including working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity as funding for SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other nutrition assistance programs runs out" said Bread for the World in a statement after the government shutdown started.

Even emergency food aid programs abroad can be harmed by this shutdown as agencies suspend work and staff who work on these issues could be let go.

Ending the government shutdown is crucial or we cannot fight the escalating hunger. Right now in America food prices are high and government programs are crucial to providing relief for many families. Foodbanks are already crushed by demand because of the high food prices.

Overseas our food aid programs are struggling because of a year of massive budget cuts. A prolonged government shutdown is going to worsen our already struggling response to the global hunger crisis. With Gaza and Sudan suffering from famine and major hunger emergencies in Haiti, Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Yemen and South Sudan we need to be focused on food aid.

Democrats and Republicans must work together to boost funding for our global food aid programs, which are essential to winning peace. As former Secretary of State George Marshall said on Oct. 1, 1947 "Hunger and insecurity are the worst enemies of peace." Imagine what would have happened to the famous Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe had there been a government shutdown. We would have lost the post war peace.

We need Democrats and Republicans working together on hunger and all the issues facing our country. Both political parties can start by cooperating to end the government shutdown so everything can reopen. We need less political rhetoric from our leaders and more work.

Government shutdowns harm the poor and hungry. We need food aid programs up and running. It’s time to end government shutdowns once and for all and start compromising and cooperating to run the country.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.”