State of Emergency Declared in New York Over SNAP Funding Suspension

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency as the state faces an impending suspension of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Millions of individuals will likely exhaust their SNAP benefits starting Saturday, coinciding with the ongoing government shutdown. Democrats have urged the administration to utilize emergency SNAP funds, but officials from the Trump administration assert legal restrictions prevent them from doing so during the shutdown.

“The Trump administration has cut food aid to 3 million New Yorkers, leading our state into an unprecedented public health crisis while negatively impacting grocery stores, farmers, and more,” Hochul remarked. “Unlike some Republicans in Washington, I won’t just sit by and watch families struggle to feed themselves.”

The governor’s emergency declaration allocates $65 million in state funds aimed at supporting food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens. This includes $40 million set aside for the state’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which collaborates with emergency food providers, and $25 million for Nourish NY, which provides surplus produce to food relief organizations.

Additionally, Hochul has quickly mobilized $41 million in emergency food assistance to address immediate needs.

The declaration also enables the Empire State Service Corps and New York State University Corps to increase support at the state’s food pantries. A response team will be set up to assist food pantries and banks that are facing staffing shortages.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP funding, indicated it will not draw from over $5 billion in emergency funds to help cover part of the forecasted $9.2 billion in November benefits. The USDA clarified that these emergency funds are reserved for unforeseen situations like natural disasters.

A previously released shutdown plan highlighted that Congress must allocate SNAP benefits from emergency reserves during funding shortages.

As of the 2024 fiscal year, approximately 2.9 million New Yorkers—around 15% of the state’s population—received SNAP benefits. Nationwide, around 41.7 million Americans were receiving monthly SNAP benefits during the same timeframe.

With the November 1 funding expiration looming, other states are echoing similar concerns. Just recently, all 43 Democratic members of the Florida Legislature sent a letter requesting Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency to tackle food insecurity.

On the same day, Hochul joined 25 other states and Washington, D.C. in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the looming funding suspension. The case, initiated in Massachusetts District Court, contends that the USDA’s refusal to allocate emergency funds for part of November’s SNAP benefits is unlawful.