The ongoing government shutdown could jeopardize funding for more than 751,000 Alabamians who depend on food stamps.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture office, which oversees food stamps - official known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - said recipients will receive their benefits in January. There are no assurances after that if President Trump and Congress fail to reach a funding deal to restore services to the 25 percent of government agencies, including the USDA, that are impacted by the shutdown.

SNAP provides important nutritional support for low-wage working families, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes.

Barry Spear, spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, said “Alabama’s SNAP program is impacted the same as all other states with no assurance of funding past January.”

As of September, the month for which the most recent data was available, 751,235 Alabamians - or 353,530 households - depend on food stamps with the average recipient receiving $118 per month. Nationally, close to 70 percent of SNAP recipients are in families with children; nearly a third are in households with seniors or people with disabilities.

The federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits and splits the cost of administering the program with the states, which operate the program.

Other domestic nutrition assistance programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and WIC will continue using state funds, according to USDA guidance. The Child Nutrition Program, which includes school lunch and breakfast and the summer food service, will continue operations into February but there are no assurances past that time, the guidance said.

Currently, about 95 percent of USDA employees are furloughed waiting for the shutdown to end.

The government shutdown is now in its 12th day and the president and Congress seem no closer to an agreement on funding a $5 billion wall at the U.S./Mexico border. On Wednesday, the president said he would not accept anything less than $2.5 billion for the wall, adding the shutdown could last “a long time” or it could end “quickly.”

The 116th Congress starts tomorrow, with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans leading the Senate.