U.S. states have issued warnings to food aid recipients that November benefits may not be disbursed if the ongoing federal government shutdown enters its fourth week. This alert affects over 41 million participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and nearly 7 million in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
The potential continuation of the shutdown could worsen hunger across the United States, particularly as the Trump administration had already reduced federal funding for food banks and introduced stricter work requirements for SNAP this year. Minerva Delgado, director of coalitions and advocacy at the Alliance to End Hunger, stated, “Families are going to be hurt by this should it continue at a time we know families are struggling to make ends meet.”
States like Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas have indicated that if the shutdown persists, they may not process the November benefits, prompting anti-hunger organizations and food banks to prepare communities for possible disruptions. Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, expressed concern that without these benefits, more families might face meal skippings or struggle with necessary payments, exacerbating their financial burdens.
An Agriculture Department spokesperson highlighted the risk to food aid as a significant concern amidst a politically charged environment, where blame is exchanged between Democrats and Republicans regarding health insurance costs and the ongoing shutdown, which has now become the second-longest in U.S. history. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins underscored the critical need for a resolution, noting that without an agreement to reopen the government by November, all SNAP benefits could be halted.
Food banks in affected states are experiencing increased demand while striving to bolster fundraising efforts. However, many are finding it challenging to keep up with the rising needs of their communities. Jim Conwell, vice president of communications for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, remarked, “We’re already serving more people than before COVID.”
Historically, food aid continues during federal shutdowns due to contingency plans established by the USDA. However, communications have been limited this time, causing delays in states sending benefit information to processors, resulting in uncertainty for November distributions. While the USDA has approximately $5 billion in contingency funds that could partially cover SNAP benefits, there has been no confirmation of their use for upcoming disbursements.
The Trump administration had previously allocated about $300 million from tariff revenue for October’s WIC benefits, but it’s uncertain if similar funding will be available for November. Georgia Machell, CEO of the National WIC Association, warned that without such measures, historic disruptions to WIC services could occur.
Despite the critical situation, it may also serve as a catalyst for greater community solidarity, as families and local organizations come together to support one another in these challenging times. The potential for increased collaboration among food banks, anti-hunger advocates, and governmental agencies to address the rising need offers a glimmer of hope amid the crisis.