Millions of low-income benefit recipients in the United States may face disruptions to their food assistance next month as the government shutdown continues without resolution. Approximately 42 million Americans receiving Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could see their aid delayed, reduced, or halted entirely if Congress fails to end the budget stalemate.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, informed states last week that federal funds for the program would be insufficient for November. In a letter obtained by The New York Times, the USDA instructed state agencies to pause distribution of funds to recipients' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. While SNAP is federally funded, states are responsible for delivering benefits to residents.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned that the program would run out of money within two weeks, affecting millions of vulnerable families. The White House blamed Democrats for the shutdown, stating that their decision to shut down the government has led to funding shortfalls for programs like SNAP. Democrats have countered by pointing fingers at Republicans for failing to pass a budget.
States including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have issued warnings to residents about potential disruptions. Pennsylvania officials stated that approximately 2 million SNAP recipients in the state will not receive food assistance until the shutdown ends. Illinois officials noted that the state administers over $350 million in SNAP benefits monthly and lacks the budgetary capacity to backfill federal funding.
The SNAP emergency contingency fund currently holds about $6 billion, but the USDA estimates $8.1 billion is needed to cover November benefits. On average, recipients receive about $188 per person per month, or roughly $6 per day, which they use to purchase groceries. Advocacy groups have warned that the funding lapse could have devastating consequences for millions of Americans.
