BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Trump administration will begin withholding money for administering federal food assistance in California and 21 other states.

That is, unless the states start providing data about benefit recipients. The action is in response to these states refusing to provide data on aid recipients, including their names and immigration status, which the administration claims is needed to root out fraud. Democratic states have sued to block the requirement, which affects roughly 42 million low-income Americans…with 5 million of them in California.

The action will not directly affect the benefits people receive, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture and cuts were set to be implemented today. However, the Community Action Partnership of Kern isn’t so sure.

“We do see the ripple down effect of it. So, a lot of these individuals that are getting affected — if their benefits were to be cut they would be coming to us and asking for assistance. Whether that be direct food assistance or other assistance lines because now they’re having to pay groceries instead of having to pay for their utility bill. They’re flipping their resources around…so we will see that influx majorly like we did last month,” said Savannah Oates, with CAPK.

Oates says she has received no official word on the status of SNAP benefits in California and the organization is preparing for large crowds over the next weeks.

At Stay Focused Ministries, another food pantry, the sentiment is similar.

Organizers said with no agency updates, the staff is preparing for anything.

“I believe that the next few weeks are going to be hard on everyone. Because of the SNAP benefits, yes that’s one thing. But even Christmas, families are struggling at this time, and we want to be able to help those families. We are expecting large crowds for Christmas amid the funds people are lacking right now,” said Reanne Ayon, a staff member at Stay Focused Ministries.

Ayon added that Stay Focused has served 900 families in the past three months — over 300 more than usual. Changes to SNAP benefits could add to an already strained food distribution framework.

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