County social-services staff told the Bladen County Board of Commissioners that a federal government shutdown has interrupted benefits and reimbursements for several nutrition and health programs, forcing the county to continue service delivery while awaiting federal payments.

“Bladen County DSS is working with banks and has placed information on our website,” a DSS staff member said during the meeting. The staff member reported the county serves 6,187 participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and that the county distributes roughly $218,000 a month on that program.

The staff member said federal contingency funds had provided a partial, short-term infusion: “We did get word this afternoon that the Trump administration would fund part of the SNAP program — roughly about 50% of the program, short term probably for about another 30 days,” and that the funding came through contingency sources in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The staff member added that the Women, Infants, and Children program’s federal funding could run out around Nov. 30 and that no new beneficiaries could be added until funding is restored.

County staff described operational and financial risks to local departments that administer pass-through federal funds. “We’re doing all the work for all these programs, and we’re supporting and paying for these programs. And we’re gonna have to wait for reimbursement,” the DSS staff member said, noting potential impacts on the sheriff’s office, public health and cooperative extension where federal pass-throughs support local services.

Staff also told commissioners that Medicare-related payment authorizations for EMS had expired Sept. 30 and that, depending on federal action, the county could be required to reimburse Medicare payments it received for October if those authorizations are not extended.

Public commenters and board members discussed local distribution options if benefits lapse. A resident asked whether food could be routed to remote communities; staff replied that churches and food banks would be primary local partners and that the department was coordinating with community organizations to direct aid where needs are greatest.

The briefing was presented as a status update; commissioners did not vote on actions tied to the briefing but asked staff to continue monitoring and to report new information to the board as it becomes available.