As the federal government shutdown drags on for three weeks, various states are sounding alarms about dwindling funding for food assistance programs.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services issued a warning, stating, “If the federal government shutdown continues beyond October 27, SNAP benefits for November will not be paid.”
Similar alerts have come from officials in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, indicating that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, could run out of funds imminently. “We will run out of money within two weeks,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins noted on Thursday.
SNAP, which used to be called the Food Stamp Program, supports individuals living at or near the poverty line to afford groceries. Funded by federal dollars, it is managed at the state and local levels. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified states that it’s looking into alternative funding, but for now, states are required to halt issuing benefits that were approved after October 16.
This funding suspension could impact around 42 million people who depend on SNAP for their food needs—approximately 1 in 8 Americans.
What Will Happen to My SNAP Benefits in November?
The USDA’s shutdown contingency plan allows agencies to utilize reserve funds to maintain SNAP operations should the federal closure extend beyond a month. However, accumulating the necessary funds could prove challenging, as it would require about $8 billion to keep benefits flowing in November.
Currently, the emergency fund sits at nearly $6 billion. According to reports, Peter Hudler, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Human Services, mentioned that states could potentially find ways to fund benefits, though recipients shouldn’t expect reimbursements.
There’s also a chance that benefit payments might be delayed or distributed only to certain households. The USDA has prioritized distributing November funds to those most in need, as reported by The New York Times.
It’s unclear just how serious the USDA is about potentially cutting benefits, or if the warning was merely a strategy to encourage negotiations in Washington. Various state leaders, while pointing fingers at the “radical left” Democrats for the shutdown, have also criticized the Republican Party.
Charles Saleh, the New Mexico Budget and Accountability Office Director, expressed uncertainty during a hearing: “We’re following up to see if food stamps are truly underfunded or if this is just a tactic the government is using throughout the negotiations.”
Carolyn Vega, associate director of the nonprofit organization Share Our Strength, described the situation as unprecedented. Historically, benefits have continued even during previous government shutdowns over the last two decades.
The funding crisis comes at a hectic moment for SNAP, especially with the One Big Beautiful Bill compliance deadline looming in November and anticipated losses of benefits for certain SNAP recipients.
