The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Congress and the White House to end the federal government shutdown, warning that millions of Americans who depend on government aid could soon face severe hardship if essential programs remain unfunded.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services, said in a statement that the bishops are “deeply alarmed” by the potential suspension of programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income families.

“As this government shutdown continues,” the archbishop said in the statement, “the U.S. bishops are deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted. This would be catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table and places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward. This consequence is unjust and unacceptable.”

The archbishop emphasized that the USCCB has long supported public policies aimed at protecting those most in need. 

He called on political leaders to act swiftly.

“I urgently plead with lawmakers and the Administration to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that these lifesaving programs are funded, and to pass a government funding bill to end the government shutdown as quickly as possible,” Archbishop Broglio added.

The federal government officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1 after Congress did not pass a continuing resolution to fund operations. Several federal agencies have reduced operations, furloughing tens of thousands of workers. Assistance programs like SNAP, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and housing vouchers are facing possible interruptions as contingency funds run out, while national parks, museums, and some veterans’ services have also scaled back operations.