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By Aliss Higham
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Several states have issued warnings that SNAP benefits could be interrupted due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Health agencies in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Minnesota have said that funding for benefits may not be available in November if the current shutdown continues.
Why It Matters
About 42 million people across the country receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which help low- and no-income households afford groceries.
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While SNAP is considered a mandatory program — meaning people who qualify are legally entitled to benefits — the money to pay those benefits must still be appropriated by lawmakers. If Congress fails to pass a budget or a continuing resolution, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may not have the authority or funding to keep benefits flowing beyond what has already been allocated.
During short shutdowns, USDA can often rely on existing funds to keep paying benefits. But if a shutdown is prolonged, states could run out of federal funding to distribute SNAP, and households might see delays or interruptions to their monthly benefits.
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What To Know
Typically, states submit information on eligible households’ SNAP benefits to their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) vendors every month. However, the USDA has instructed states to hold off on sending that data "until further notice," according to a letter sent to state agencies from Ronald Ward, the acting associate administrator of SNAP.
"As stated in our lapse of appropriation correspondence dated October 1, 2025, SNAP has funding available for benefits and operations through the month of October," Ward wrote in the letter, which was sent to Newsweek.
"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."
He added: "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 vendors."
North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that while October's benefits will be paid as usual, it does "not currently have information on November."
In Wisconsin, Sasha Gersten-Paal, director of the state's SNAP development division, wrote in an October 10 letter that "if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits to 42 million individuals across the Nation," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In Minnesota, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families says on its website that it has received notice from the USDA "that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, there will not be enough funds to pay November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits."
What People Are Saying
Jennifer Greenfield, an associate professor at the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work, told Newsweek: "If the government shutdown lasts into November, SNAP benefits will pause in many states and will certainly shrink in any places where states are able to fill in some gaps. This means that millions of children will be too hungry to learn, and older adults’ home-delivered meals could stop, with quick and devastating consequences for their health and well-being.
"Without some relief, they will have a difficult time keeping up with demand in November if this shutdown continues. For those who can donate: food pantries need your help right now. However, Congress really needs to take action in the next two weeks to avoid a hunger crisis among the country's most vulnerable families."
The Food Action and Research Center said in a blog post: "If USDA fails to instruct states to transmit the necessary electronic files on time, November SNAP benefits could be delayed or interrupted entirely. Each state operates on its own internal processing schedule to ensure the timely issuance of benefits. If a state misses its deadline to begin that process, delays are almost inevitable, leaving households without access to the food assistance they rely on."
What Happens Next
The federal government’s shutdown is now in its 16th day, with both Democrats and Republicans failing to reach a funding deal.
Update 10/22/25, 11:24 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Jennifer Greenfield.
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