Concern is growing over the government shutdown, now in its fourth week, and what it means for federally-funded initiatives, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP benefits—often referred to as food stamps—helped more than 41million people in the U.S. in 2024. SNAP decreases the likelihood of food insecurity by roughly 30% and the likelihood of being very food insecure by 20%, according to the USDA.
But amid the government shutdown, with Republicans and Democrats locked in a bitter stalemate over spending and health care items, SNAP recipients are at risk of not getting the stamps that enable them to buy essential groceries.
California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom, a long-time critic of the Trump Administration, is one of many state leaders to warn that SNAP benefits could soon be halted due to the “possibility of no new funds in November.”
“Trump’s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people’s lives and making basic needs like food more expensive,” said Newsom on Monday, emphasizing the risk for people in his state.
5.5 million people in California use “CalFresh” SNAP benefits to do their grocery shopping, stated Newsom, adding that those recipients could “begin to be notified as early as this week about the potential benefit delay.”
“SNAP has funding available for benefits and operations through the month of October. However, if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the nation,” read a cautionary letter the USDA sent out to regional SNAP directors on Oct. 10.
“Considering the operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems, and in the interest of preserving maximum flexibility, we are forced to direct States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) vendors until further notice. This includes on-going SNAP benefits and daily files.”
The Republican and Democratic Parties are each blaming one another for the government shutdown and, in turn, the looming impact on SNAP benefits.
Last week, Trump’s U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, said: “Because of the Democrat shutdown, there are not enough funds to provide SNAP for 40 million Americans come Nov 1. Democrats are putting free healthcare for illegal aliens and their political agenda ahead of food security for American families.”
But Newsom and others are blaming the Trump Administration over the lack of available funds.
Amid mounting concerns over Americans’ continued access to food assistance initiatives, here’s what to know about SNAP and which states have issued warnings about access to the benefits.
What are SNAP benefits?
SNAP is administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). It provides assistance to around 41 million Americans who meet the eligibility requirements. Criteria varies by state, but it is provided to households that meet or come below the poverty line. Funding for each family also depends on income, and whether children, disabled or elderly people are living in the household.
Those eligible to receive SNAP funds are given a certain amount of benefits each month, which are paid onto an electronic (EBT) card that can be used at participating stores.
Eligibility for SNAP and the way that it is funded has changed under the current Administration, with Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill passing more of the funding burden over to state governments.
States are now required to pay for a higher amount of error payments and other aspects of SNAP funding, something which researchers are concerned could result in some states dropping out of the program.
Recipients who can’t document that they are exempt (for example, because of a disability), plus those who receive SNAP and work more than 20 hours a week, are some of the Americans that will no longer be eligible for the benefits come late 2025 or early 2026.
An estimated 13.5% of households, or 1 in 7, were food insecure in 2023, up from 10.5% in 2020, according to the USDA. With reports of grocery store prices increasing, people’s access to food, especially healthy food, is a major concern.
Read More: What Is SNAP and What Challenges Is It Facing Under the Trump Administration?
Which states have issued warnings about SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown?
Both Democrat and Republican states have warned that SNAP beneficiaries may not be receiving their SNAP payments for November, should the government shutdown linger on.
Mirroring Newsom’s warning to Californians, the Human and Health Services Department (HHS) for Texas has confirmed that the benefits in the state for November will not be paid if the shutdown continues past Monday, Oct. 27.
In Pennsylvania, some SNAP payments have already been halted, starting Oct. 16.
“SNAP benefits will not be paid until the federal government shutdown ends and funds are released,” read a statement from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website. The statement accused Republicans of “failing to pass a federal budget.”
The Illinois Department of Human Services also warned that 1.9 million recipients face missing out on SNAP benefits from Nov. 1. The department said the state administers more than $350 million in SNAP benefits each month, calling it a “vital lifeline to nutrition” for households that require it.
“If SNAP funds are not delivered by the federal government, the State of Illinois does not have the budgetary ability to backfill these critical resources,” the department said on Oct. 16.
Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families has put a deadline on the government shutdown for the end of October, saying that should the D.C. stalemate continue into the next month, “there will not be enough funds to pay November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.”
The department has confirmed that benefits for October will not be affected.
Oregon warned more than 750,000 recipients in the state that they will not be receiving their SNAP benefits after Oct. 31, unless the government reopens.
“This is a cruel and unacceptable situation. President Trump should focus on feeding families by negotiating a deal with Congress, not doing other things like deploying troops in American cities on taxpayers’ dime,” Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, also of the Democratic Party, criticized the Trump Administration for the ongoing shutdown, saying that 3 million people in her state are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits.
“Lives depend on this, and Washington Republicans need to stop playing games. Release this federal funding right now and let states get this money to families to ensure they don’t go hungry,” said Hochul.
New Jersey’s Department of Human Services issued a similar warning, stating that November benefits may not be available on time if the shutdown persists.
“It is unclear if SNAP benefits loaded on your Families First EBT card prior to Oct. 31, 2025, will be able to be used after Nov. 1, 2025,” the department said.
New Jersey’s Gov. Phil Murphy criticized the Trump Administration’s cuts to SNAP through the Big, Beautiful Bill on Monday, saying “there is no doubt it was specifically designed to make life harder for working Americans.”
Local county governments are also issuing warnings that SNAP-beneficiary households will not receive their payments should the shutdown continue through October. Adams County in Colorado said that “November SNAP benefits, for new and ongoing cases, will not be issued at this time.”
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