Approximately 42 million Americans are at risk of losing their food stamp benefits in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which could cut off critical food assistance for vulnerable families. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will run out of money in two weeks, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the funding impasse.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has notified states that there may not be sufficient funds to pay full SNAP benefits next month if the shutdown persists. Rollins, in a White House briefing, stated that millions of families could be left without access to these programs and accused Democrats of putting their political agenda ahead of food security. Democrats, in turn, have blamed Republicans for being unwilling to negotiate a spending deal that includes extensions for expiring health care subsidies.
SNAP, a cornerstone of the nation’s safety net, serves about one in eight Americans, providing an average monthly benefit of $188 per person. The program has a contingency fund of approximately $6 billion, but November benefits are projected to cost around $8 billion, creating a significant shortfall. While the USDA’s shutdown plan mentions available multi-year contingency funding, officials have not confirmed its use for SNAP, leaving states in limbo.
As a result, 17 states have stopped accepting new food stamp applications because their systems would require combining October and November payments, which could complicate distributions. Other states can separate the payments and continue issuing October benefits to new enrollees. This administrative chaos underscores the broader impact of the political deadlock.
The current shutdown, which began on October 1, has already strained other nutrition programs. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program faced funding depletion earlier this month but was temporarily rescued by reallocating $300 million in tariff revenue. However, a senior USDA official indicated that similar measures are not possible for SNAP due to inadequate funds.
This situation echoes the 2018-2019 government shutdown, when SNAP benefits were also at risk. At that time, the USDA planned to use a 30-day payment provision if needed, but the shutdown ended before it was necessary. Advocacy groups emphasize that food stamps are essential for food security, particularly with holidays like Thanksgiving approaching, and food pantries are already overwhelmed.
Gina Plata-Nino of the Food Research & Action Center noted that SNAP provides critical assistance that pantries cannot replace. Ty Jones Cox from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities called on the administration to act urgently to protect benefits, as it has for other priorities. The resolution now hinges on whether Congress can break the impasse and pass a spending bill to prevent a humanitarian crisis.