Several states are now warning they will be forced to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits come Nov. 1 if the shutdown continues.
Texas is now warning its millions of recipients that all November SNAP benefits will be halted if the shutdown continues past Oct. 27.
Pennsylvania officials say they will also not be able to distribute SNAP benefits if the shutdown — now in its 21st day — continues.
Other states such as Minnesota and New York, are issuing similar warnings — saying benefits are “at risk” or “may be delayed” if the shutdown continues.
Previously, the White House said it would use tariff revenue to pay for WIC benefits.
Tens of millions of the poorest Americans will soon be severely impacted by one of the most significant effects of the government shutdown: the suspension of a vital food assistance program.
Numerous states have now issued warnings that, come November, they will have to stop providing benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 1 if it stays shut down.
About 42 million Americans with low incomes are served by SNAP, commonly known as “food stamps.”. Managed by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the program provides electronic benefits that can be spent on food just like cash.
Now, Texas is alerting its millions of SNAP recipients that if the shutdown lasts past October, all benefits for November will be suspended. 28.
On the 21st day of the shutdown, Pennsylvania officials say they will also be unable to disburse SNAP benefits.
An alert posted on the state’s Department of Human Services website states, “November 2025 SNAP benefits cannot be paid because Republicans in Washington DC failed to pass a federal budget, causing the federal government shutdown.”.
Similar warnings are being issued by other states, including Minnesota and New York, which describe benefits as “at risk” or “may be delayed” if the shutdown goes on.
SNAP is administered by states but has historically been fully funded by the federal government. This implies that each state will have a different effect on the shutdown’s effects on SNAP and when benefits will begin to decline.
WIC, also known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, received $300 million from the White House earlier this month to help sustain the program through October. States are now expected to run out of money as early as next month, despite the shutdown’s halt.
WIC, which provides wholesome food to over 7 million low-income mothers, young children, and expectant parents, is likely to run out of funding as early as November. 1 unless the government gets more emergency funding or reopens. The White House previously declared that WIC benefits would be funded by tariff revenue.
“State WIC Agencies might have to take extreme steps to keep families from receiving the services they require, like stopping food benefits, if they don’t receive more funding. Georgia Machell, CEO of the National WIC Association, said in a statement on Tuesday that this would directly endanger the nutrition and health of millions of mothers, infants, and young children.
The acting head of SNAP, Ronald Ward, warned in a letter to state health officials earlier this month that “there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation if the current lapse in appropriations continues.”. “..”.
Already, SNAP has had a turbulent few months. An estimated $186 billion was already cut from the program over a ten-year period by President Donald Trump’s megabill.
Justin Gomez from ABC News helped with this story.
