States Warn Millions Could Lose Food Aid as Shutdown Enters Fourth Week
WASHINGTON, October 23, 2025 — Dozens of U.S. states have issued urgent warnings that federal food assistance programs may be suspended in November if the federal government shutdown continues, putting nearly 48 million Americans at risk of losing access to essential nutrition benefits.
The warnings mark one of the most serious potential humanitarian consequences of the ongoing Trump administration budget impasse, now entering its fourth week and the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
State officials said that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — which serves 41 million Americans — and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — serving nearly 7 million mothers and children — may run out by early November if Congress fails to pass a spending bill.
SNAP and WIC Recipients Face Benefit Gap
According to a Reuters analysis, more than two dozen states, including California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, have posted official notices warning that November SNAP benefits will not be distributed if the shutdown continues past next week.
“This could leave millions of families without access to food right before the holiday season,” said Minerva Delgado, Director of Coalitions and Advocacy at the Alliance to End Hunger. “Families are already struggling to make ends meet — this will make a bad situation worse.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has about $5 billion in contingency funds, but that would cover only a portion of November’s estimated $8 billion SNAP budget. Without congressional action, food assistance could experience its first widespread disruption in history.
Food Banks Brace for Record Demand
Food banks across the country say they are already stretched thin and cannot fill the gap if federal benefits stop.
“This could get really bad,” said Jim Conwell, Vice President of Communications for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “We’re already serving more people than we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we simply don’t have the capacity to replace SNAP and WIC.”
In Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission warned that SNAP benefits will not be issued if the shutdown continues past October 27. Oregon’s Department of Human Services advised residents to prepare emergency plans and identify local food resources.
Limited Federal Communication Deepens Confusion
Unlike previous shutdowns, the USDA’s communication with state governments has been unusually limited, leaving officials uncertain how to plan.
On October 10, the USDA instructed states not to send benefit recipient information to their processors, disrupting the normal cycle of electronic benefit transfers (EBT). Since then, states have received no new guidance, according to EBT processor Conduent, which serves 37 states.
Many states are scrambling to locate emergency reserves, though experts warn few have sufficient funds.
Georgia Machell, CEO of the National WIC Association, said that October’s WIC payments were only possible because the Trump administration redirected $300 million in tariff revenue. Without new measures, she warned, “November could see a historic disruption to WIC services.”
Political Standoff Deepens Over Shutdown
The Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers continue to trade blame over the prolonged shutdown.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned that “SNAP benefits will go away” without a deal by November. Republicans accuse Democrats of withholding votes on a spending bill to protect healthcare subsidies, while Democrats argue that the administration’s proposed cuts to social safety programs are unacceptable.
An Agriculture Department spokesperson called the looming food aid cutoff an “inflection point for Democrats,” underscoring the political tension surrounding the crisis.
Rising Hunger and Policy Implications
Advocacy organizations warn that any interruption in food benefits could trigger a sharp spike in hunger rates nationwide. Millions of families may be forced to skip meals, delay bills, or seek emergency food aid, further burdening food banks already coping with inflation and high food costs.
“This shutdown is not just about politics — it’s about people going hungry,” said Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. “Every day that passes without a resolution is another day families wonder how they’ll eat next week.”
Outlook: Shutdown Threatens to Deepen U.S. Food Insecurity
If Congress and the White House cannot reach a deal soon, November could mark the first-ever federal disruption of food aid programs since their creation.
Experts warn that even short-term interruptions could cause lasting damage to families’ food security, strain local economies, and undermine confidence in the country’s social welfare systems.
Until a budget is passed, state agencies and food banks remain on emergency footing — preparing for what could become the largest hunger crisis in the U.S. in decades.
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