With the U.S. government shutdown stretching toward a fifth week, the Agriculture Department says it cannot fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, putting roughly 42 million people at risk of a lapse starting Nov. 1. More than two dozen states sued to compel the Trump administration to use contingency reserves, while governors and agencies roll out emergency measures from food-bank support to state-funded bridge payments.
The nation’s largest anti-hunger program is poised for an unprecedented interruption. USDA told states in an Oct. 10 letter to hold their November SNAP issuances because federal funds would be insufficient if the shutdown continued. On Oct. 24, the department circulated guidance saying the program’s contingency reserve is “not legally available” for regular monthly benefits, a reversal from prior shutdown planning and a move that leaves November payments unfunded absent congressional action.
Legal challenge
A coalition of more than two dozen Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed suit on Oct. 28 in federal court, arguing USDA must tap available contingency funds and that suspending November benefits violates federal law. The complaint lists, among others, Colorado, Connecticut, New York and Washington as plaintiffs, and also includes the governors of Kansas (Laura Kelly) and Kentucky (Andy Beshear) in their official capacities. The filing seeks emergency relief to force at least partial payments in November.
What states are doing now
- California: Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the California National Guard and California Volunteers to assist food banks and fast-tracked up to $80 million in state support as CalFresh (SNAP) benefits face delays for about 5.5 million recipients.
- Alabama: The Department of Human Resources said applications will be processed and recipients should continue normal reporting and recertification, but no new November benefits will be issued until federal funding resumes.
- Alaska: The Department of Health warned that about 66,000 Alaskans may not receive November benefits and said technical constraints prevent the state from substituting its own funds through the federal EBT system.
- Arizona: The Department of Economic Security confirmed it cannot disburse November benefits during the shutdown and is directing residents to food pantries through the Arizona Food Bank Network for immediate help.
- Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont authorized $3 million in emergency funding to Connecticut Foodshare to bolster pantry supplies while SNAP is halted.
- Virginia: Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency and announced a temporary state-run bridge, the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program, to load weekly benefits onto existing EBT cards beginning Nov. 3, using roughly $37.5 million per week from the state surplus through November.
- Colorado: State officials estimate roughly 600,000 Coloradans — about half of them children — would lose timely access to SNAP in November. The governor requested up to $10 million for food banks and urged residents to use 211 and Feeding Colorado resources.
Why this lapse is different
If benefits do not go out on time, it would mark the first time in SNAP’s six-decade history that a lapse in federal appropriations halts payments. USDA says contingency funds must be held for disasters and are not available for routine monthly benefits; anti-hunger groups and state officials counter that prior guidance contemplated using reserves to avoid precisely this scenario. A federal court hearing is expected this week on whether the agency must release some funding while the shutdown continues.
Economic ripple effects
Food banks from coast to coast are bracing for surges. The stakes extend beyond households: SNAP dollars flow through local retailers and distributors. In Georgia alone, recipients redeemed about $2.8 billion in SNAP benefits in fiscal 2024 across roughly 10,000 authorized retailers, illustrating the program’s reach into local economies.
As Nov. 1 approaches, states are preparing triage plans, but most acknowledge they cannot fully replace federal benefits. Whether SNAP resumes on time now hinges on court action or a deal to reopen the government.