Government shutdown impacts SNAP benefits
State health officials say food assistance could be cut off for millions if the government doesn’t reopen in the next few days.
Fox – 4 News
Millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be left scrambling for food if the government shutdown continues into November.
SNAP, sometimes known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides low-income families monthly benefits to afford healthy food. Funds for the program are allocated monthly, so October benefits went out as usual despite the government shutdown.
However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the SNAP program, said earlier this month that there will not be enough funding to pay all benefits for November if the shutdown continues.
Some government agencies effectively shut down beginning Oct. 1 after congressional leaders failed to agree on federal funding allocations for the 2026 fiscal year. As of Oct. 22, the shutdown is the second longest ever.
Here’s what to know.
Will SNAP benefits go out in November?
There will not be enough funding to pay the entirety of SNAP benefits in November if the shutdown continues, the USDA said in a letter to state agencies dated Oct. 10.
“If the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation,” reads the letter, which was signed by SNAP development director Sasha Gersten-Paal.
The USDA, which is led by Trump-appointee Brooke Rollins, pointed blame at Democratic lawmakers for the shutdown, echoing familiar comments made by Republicans and other Trump administration officials throughout the month.
“We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. Continue to hold out for healthcare for illegals or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments,” the USDA said in the Oct. 22 statement to USA TODAY.
What can SNAP recipients do if benefits aren’t issued in November?
SNAP relies on cooperation between state agencies, which oversee benefits, and the federal government, which funds them.
Therefore, SNAP recipients should check with their individual state agency to find other food assistance for November if needed.
Normally, states send recipients their SNAP benefits through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card to pay for food at eligible stores.
While these benefits are issued monthly, they do not expire for a full calendar year, so recipients who have leftover money on their EBT card can still use it in November, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Food banks likely to face increased need if shutdown continues
Those who typically rely on SNAP benefits can utilize food banks and other subsidized meal programs in the wake of the funding lapse. To find a local food bank, enter a zip code on Feeding America’s website.
George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, a Philadelphia food bank, told USA TODAY that with the lapse in SNAP benefit funding, his organization is ramping up donations and buying additional food.
However, Matysik emphasized that food banks were already operating under federal funding cuts earlier this year before the government shutdown.
“The amount of food that SNAP provides has been estimated to be nine times larger than the entire food bank network combined, so to think that we at food banks alone can be the sole resource to pick up this slack for government’s failure in this moment, it’s very unreasonable,” Matysik said.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
