$2 billion in Tennessee reserves not being touched to help during federal SNAP standoff

The state of Tennessee currently has a $2 billion surplus in the bank.

Governor Bill Lee has already said those dollars will not be used for emergency funds for SNAP recipients who will lose access to that federal food program this weekend due to the shutdown in DC.

Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson told reporters that congressional Democrats are the ones holding up nutrition funding and it is not up to the states to solve federal problems with a temporary fix for SNAP by draining Tennessee reserves.

Neighboring North Carolina and Kentucky are part of a 25-state lawsuit against Congress to free up SNAP benefit dollars while the standoff continues.

Virginia has used $2 million to replace that money with temporary funding of $50 per week to families.

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