Aliss Higham

By Aliss Higham

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Tens of millions of low-income Americans may be faced with disrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November if a spending deal is not reached in Congress.

The U.S. government is currently in a shutdown because Congress has not passed a budget or a temporary funding measure to keep federal agencies running. This started after the federal fiscal year ended on October 1.

As a result, many government services have paused, and funding for programs like SNAP could be interrupted, with states issuing warnings to recipients that they may not receive their November benefits on time.

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Why It Matters

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank, more than 40 million low-income Americans, about one in eight people in the U.S., will be left without food assistance, including about 16 million children, 8 million older adults, and 4 million people with disabilities.

Now in its 23rd day, the shutdown began after Congress failed to approve a budget or temporary funding bill. Although SNAP is a mandatory program, its continuation still relies on Congress approving the funds to operate it.

Without a budget or stopgap measure, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cannot issue new benefits beyond those already funded.

States Issue Warnings

The majority of states—36—have issued warnings regarding SNAP November payments. The map below, compiled by Newsweek from public statements from the program's agencies and lawmakers, shows all the states that have so far said benefits could be impacted by the shutdown.

The full list of states is:

While not every state has issued warnings, because SNAP is funded by federal appropriations, all states will be impacted.

Some of the warnings are partisan, with both Democrats and Republicans heaping the blame on the other side for the delay to benefits.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said in a warning to SNAP recipients: "The U.S. House under Speaker Mike Johnson has already acted to reopen the government. Our U.S. senators representing Louisiana have voted over and over again to reopen the government. They are doing their part. Now it is time for those U.S. senators, under Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to vote yes and reopen the federal government."

“President [Donald] Trump and congressional Republicans began this shutdown by playing political games with health coverage for millions of Americans. Now, their ongoing inaction is threatening crucial food assistance for those who need it most,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat. “I’m calling on President Trump to put people over politics and take immediate action to resolve this issue without further delay.”

Some states will be able to offer temporary relief if November SNAP benefits are put on hold. In Colorado, Democratic Governor Jared Polis announced up to $10 million in emergency food bank support for the period where SNAP benefits might not be available.

In Hawaii, Governor Josh Green, a Democrat, has opened a contingency fund to help provide support for SNAP recipients.

“I’m authorizing $100 million from what’s called TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, so that people who would otherwise get food support from SNAP, food stamps, they will be able to get money here," he told Hawaii News Now.

“My program will give us probably about a two-month cushion, and we will give everyone details on how to apply for that, how to make sure they get these monies if they are in real dire straits, but that can’t go on forever, and I’m really hoping, praying, and I’m going to put some pressure of my own in D.C. on the folks that make these decisions."

While SNAP benefits may not be paid on time, depending on how long the federal shutdown lasts, recipients will eventually receive their benefits due in November.

“As soon as an agreement is reached or the federal government finds an alternative funding source, and DCF [Department of Children and Families] receives approval from FNS [Food Nutrition Service], we are prepared to act quickly with contracting partners to get benefits out to Kansans,” said Kansas DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “Depending on the timing of the approval, DCF and its partners could have benefits available on cards within 72 hours.”

The Government Shutdown

Advancing the funding bill in the U.S. Senate requires 60 votes, meaning some Democratic support is required to get it over the line. However, Senate Democrats have said they will not back the measure unless it also includes an extension of subsidies for health insurance bought through the federal marketplace.

Trump has accused Democrats of being “obstructionists” for refusing to advance a funding measure. Democrats, in turn, have blamed Republicans for declining to negotiate a broader spending agreement that includes an extension of the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.

Minority leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats have no plans to alter their strategy even as funding for key benefit programs like SNAP runs out. When asked by CNN whether that prospect might prompt Democrats to reconsider, he replied: “No, it should change Republican calculus. They should sit down and negotiate a way to address this crisis. They caused it, they’re the ones maintaining it.”

Are you a SNAP recipient worried about not getting benefits in November? How do you feel about the ongoing government shutdown? Get in touch at a.higham@newsweek.com

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