42 million people could lose SNAP benefits if the government shutdown continues

The government shutdown has become the second longest in history. This has increased uncertainty about one of the country’s most important social protection programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program helps approximately 42 million Americans who depend on it every month to receive food. Authorities warn that benefits could be suspended or significantly delayed in November if Congress and the White House do not reach an agreement on funding soon.

Will SNAP be suspended?

At the moment, there appears to be no clear solution to end the government shutdown. As agencies exhaust their reserves, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP through the Food and Nutrition Service, has warned states that the federal government will soon have “insufficient funds” to continue benefits at current levels.

States such as Texas, California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, and Colorado have issued public alerts warning residents that November SNAP payments could be delayed, reduced, or suspended entirely. In Texas, authorities have notified millions of beneficiaries that benefits will be suspended if the shutdown extends beyond October 27. California Governor Gavin Newsom said his state has begun notifying counties that November benefits may not be paid, calling the disruption “devastating,” especially since it comes close to Thanksgiving.

“If President Trump and Congress do not reopen the federal government by Oct. 23, or take action to fund benefits, CalFresh [the California version of SNAP] benefits will likely be delayed in November,” he warned. About five million Californians depend on this program, which is funded entirely by federal funds. “If the government doesn’t reopen by Thursday, CalFresh benefits may not be funded in November — threatening food security for children, families, and seniors across the state ahead of the holidays.”

Reserves are running out

SNAP helps low-income individuals and families buy food by providing them with electronic benefits that can be used at participating stores. The program costs approximately $8 billion per month to operate nationwide, and has never missed a monthly payment due to a government shutdown. However, the Department of Agriculture’s contingency fund, a reserve intended to maintain benefits during short-term funding shortfalls, currently has only about $6 billion, according to officials.

That gap leaves $2 billion in unfunded benefits for November. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has acknowledged that the agency “going to run out of money in two weeks.” However, some experts believe the USDA has more flexibility than it has acknowledged.

According to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly two-thirds of the funds needed for November are already available in the contingency fund. The analysis argues that the Administration could, and should, release those funds immediately, and use its discretionary authority to transfer additional resources from other nutrition programs, as it did earlier this month to keep the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program afloat.

“The administration must act quickly,” the report argues, noting that the SNAP law requires the Secretary of Agriculture to reduce benefits or issue guidelines to states when allocated funds are sufficient. As of now, those guidelines have not been issued.

Government shutdown

At the heart of the government shutdown is President Donald Trump’s spending proposal, which includes drastic budget cuts, including an $186 billion reduction in SNAP over the next decade.

Faced with the uncertainty, some states are considering whether they can temporarily cover the shortfall with state funds, although most acknowledge that they lack the resources to do so. Illinois and New York have already ruled out using state funds to maintain SNAP, and others have indicated that any interim measures would be limited.

The potential cut would affect the most vulnerable populations: children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Nationwide, about 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities rely on SNAP benefits. In California alone, nearly two-thirds of recipients fall into one of these categories.

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