Millions of Americans are days away from losing access to food aid as the federal government shutdown halts funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — the country’s largest anti-hunger program.
The Trump administration confirmed last week that benefits will stop on Nov. 1, warning states that debit-style EBT cards will not be refilled “until further notice.”
The US Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, said its contingency funds are “not legally available” for use during the shutdown.
The stoppage threatens aid for nearly 42 million people, including seniors, children and the disabled.
In a letter to state agencies dated Oct. 10, the USDA ordered officials to hold off on distributing November benefits. A $5 billion contingency fund can be tapped only for natural disasters — not to bridge a shutdown — the department said.
A coalition of more than two dozen Democratic attorneys general and three Democratic governors sued the Trump administration, arguing that SNAP’s status as an entitlement program obligates federal officials to continue payments even without a spending deal.
Forty-six Senate Democrats signed a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging her to use the reserve funds.
Governors across the country are scrambling to fill the gap.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Oct. 23, pledging to use state funds to continue food benefits “until Congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics.”
His office said the plan will cost roughly $37.5 million a week.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said his administration would extend benefits through Nov. 4 using state resources.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, deployed the National Guard to support food banks and fast-tracked $80 million in emergency funds to feed the state’s 5.5 million CalFresh recipients.
“This is serious, this is urgent — and requires immediate action,” Newsom said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $30 million in state funding to provide over 16 million meals, saying her administration was working “to ensure New Yorkers do not go hungry this holiday season.”
She blamed Republicans for the federal lapse, calling the shutdown “cruelty” inflicted on working families.
Other states including Colorado, New Mexico, Connecticut and Minnesota are routing millions of dollars to food banks and pantries.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the state’s general fund will be tapped for $10 million in emergency assistance, half of which will go to child-focused food charities.
Some Republican-led states, such as Arkansas and Mississippi, have placed responsibility squarely on Democrats for the shutdown, which entered its 29th day on Wednesday.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders warned that more than 2,700 retailers in her state could soon lose SNAP revenue, writing on X that “Democrats need to do their job and stop punishing families and small businesses.”
In Pennsylvania, where two million residents rely on SNAP, human services officials said there would be no November benefits, adding that “the Commonwealth cannot backfill these costs.”
In light of the anticipated halt to benefits, food banks are preparing for a surge in demand.
In Georgia, where 1.4 million residents rely on SNAP, the program injects more than $3 billion annually into grocery stores and markets.
In Hawaii, the state set aside $100 million to help families cover food, rent and utilities, though officials said it won’t be enough to replace SNAP.
Guam and the US Virgin Islands announced short-term emergency funding to partially sustain their nutrition programs through early November.
Even states with cash to spend are facing roadblocks. The USDA directed states not to send new payment files to card vendors during the shutdown, citing the absence of legal funding authority.
That effectively prevents states from loading benefits onto existing cards even if they can pay for them independently.
The average SNAP recipient receives about $187 a month, according to federal data. Households that saved a portion of their October benefits can continue using their EBT cards, but no new funds will be added.
The disruption is already visible in communities. Food pantries from Miami to Seattle are reporting longer lines and empty shelves.
Officials in Missouri, Oklahoma and Idaho have advised residents to use any remaining balances before the end of the month and to seek assistance from churches, nonprofits and tribal organizations.
The USDA has not offered a timeline for the resumption of benefits. Unless Congress reaches a funding deal this week, EBT cards nationwide will stop being refilled starting Friday at midnight.
Private companies are also stepping in. DoorDash announced Sunday it would deliver 1 million free meals and waive delivery fees for 300,000 grocery orders placed by SNAP recipients through its “Emergency Food Response” campaign, partnering with 300 food banks nationwide.
Gopuff followed with a pledge to donate up to $10 million in groceries, offering SNAP users $50 in free credits for deliveries in November.
Both firms said their efforts were intended as temporary stopgaps until federal funding resumes.
