November 1, 2025
Crisis Deepens as Food Assistance Runs Dry
As the government shutdown stretches into its second month, millions of Americans woke up Saturday to a stark reality: their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been suspended, leaving 42 million low-income Americans, including 16 million children, without crucial food assistance.
The Department of Agriculture announced that funding for November’s benefits—approximately $9.5 billion—has been exhausted as the political impasse in Washington continues. This unprecedented situation marks the first time in the program’s history that SNAP benefits have been completely halted due to a government shutdown.
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Last-Minute Legal Intervention Offers Partial Relief
In a dramatic turn of events Friday evening, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to tap into emergency contingency funds to provide at least partial benefits to tens of millions of Americans.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island issued a temporary order requiring the administration to use available emergency funds. “There is no doubt that the contingency funds are appropriated funds that are without a doubt necessary to carry out the program’s operation,” Judge McConnell stated during proceedings. “The shutdown of the government through funding doesn’t do away with SNAP, it just does away with the funding of it.”
Similarly, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled that the USDA’s attempt to suspend SNAP funding is “unlawful,” though she stopped short of immediately ordering full funding.
Trump Administration Seeks Legal Clarity
President Donald Trump responded to the court rulings Friday evening on Truth Social, stating that his lawyers “do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available.” He added: “I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Trump said he has instructed his administration’s lawyers to seek clarity from the courts on how to legally fund SNAP benefits as quickly as possible. “If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” he wrote.
However, even with the court orders and Trump’s stated intentions, millions of recipients will face delays in receiving benefits that were scheduled to begin November 1. The administrative process of getting funds flowing through states will take time.
The Human Impact: Families Forced to Make Impossible Choices
The crisis is forcing families across America to make devastating choices between buying groceries, paying rent, filling prescriptions, or keeping utilities on. The average SNAP household receives about $350 per month, with nearly three-quarters of beneficiary households living below the federal poverty level.
The timing is particularly cruel, coming just weeks before Thanksgiving. About 3 million people were set to receive their food stamps on November 1, with that number growing to nearly 13.7 million by November 5, and 26.6 million by November 10.
Gina Plata-Nino, interim director of SNAP at the Food Research & Action Center, emphasized the severity of the situation: “They are not going out on time. They’re going to face an immense drop in their ability to put food on the table. They’re going to skip meals. They’re going to substitute foods. They’re going to have to turn elsewhere.”
States Step Up With Emergency Measures
With federal assistance suspended and no immediate resolution in sight, states across the nation have launched emergency response efforts. Many governors have declared states of emergency and allocated millions from state coffers to help food banks and provide direct assistance to residents.
Major State Responses:
New York: Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency October 30, allocating $40 million to the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and $25 million to Nourish N.Y. New Yorkers received more than $647 million in SNAP benefits in May alone—far exceeding the state’s emergency allocation.
California: Governor Gavin Newsom allocated $80 million to food banks throughout the state to help bridge the gap.
Ohio: Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order allocating $25 million in state funding, with $18 million going directly to emergency relief benefits for residents at or below 50% of the federal poverty level, and $7 million to food banks.
New Mexico: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced $30 million in state-funded food benefits to be distributed directly onto existing EBT cards for eligible residents.
Illinois: Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order allocating $25 million to food banks across the state.
Delaware: Governor Matt Meyer declared a state of emergency and ordered funds be transferred to the Department of Health and Social Services to continue SNAP payments on a weekly basis.
Virginia: Governor Glen Youngkin launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) initiative, providing weekly state-funded benefits through November, plus $1 million for food banks.
Additional State Actions:
- Arizona: $1.8 million deployed, with $1.5 million to food banks and the remainder to Food Bucks Now emergency fresh food program
- Colorado: $10 million requested for food banks and pantries, plus extension of WIC funding
- Connecticut: $3 million to Connecticut Foodshare
- Hawaii: Launched the Hawaiʻi Relief Program providing up to four months of TANF support, plus $2 million to food banks
- Iowa: Matching up to $1 million in donations to state food banks
- Maine: $1 million to food banks
- Maryland: $10 million to food banks
- Massachusetts: $4 million to Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance program
- Minnesota: $4 million to food banks
- Missouri: $5 million to food banks plus $10.6 million to Missouri Area Agencies on Aging for senior feeding programs
- North Carolina: $10 million to food banks, with an additional $8 million from private organizations
- North Dakota: $915,000 to food banks and $600,000 for WIC program
- Oregon: $5 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families carryover funds to food banks
- Rhode Island: $6 million in TANF funds to 20,000 eligible families, plus $200,000 for the RI Community Food Bank
- Washington: $2.2 million per week to food banks until SNAP funding is restored
- West Virginia: Matching up to $13 million in donations to food banks
Louisiana: Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency October 24, but as of October 31, the state legislature had not yet authorized the requested stabilization funds.
The Food Bank Crisis
While state responses are significant, experts warn they cannot fully replace SNAP’s scale. Food banks—already strained by rising food prices and increased demand—are being pushed to their breaking point.
“No food bank, no charitable organization, can fill the gap if November SNAP isn’t provided,” Stefanie Shuman, Food Bank For New York City’s communications director, told CNN. Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, noted that more than 3.5 million Texans receive food stamps, and “the shutdown adds another layer of strain to an already stretched emergency food system.”
The emergency food system was already under pressure from inflation and increased need. Food pantries cannot absorb the sudden demand from 42 million people losing benefits simultaneously.
Communities Rally: The “Grocery Buddy” Movement
Amid the crisis, ordinary Americans are stepping up to help neighbors in need through grassroots initiatives. The “grocery buddy” movement has emerged on social media platforms, with people volunteering to shop with struggling families, provide gift cards, or cover grocery costs.
Tee Tran, owner of Monster Pho in Oakland, California, remembers his own mother working five jobs and using SNAP benefits when he arrived as a Vietnamese refugee in 1989. Now, he’s among thousands of small business owners offering free meals to those presenting SNAP cards.
Kevin Cassidy, owner of KC’s Pizza & Wings in Long Island, posted on social media offering free meals to anyone with a SNAP/EBT card, no questions asked. Within two days, he received over $1,000 in donations and hundreds of messages from people wanting to help. He’s now coordinating with local food banks and planning to distribute pre-made meals and grocery gift cards.
The Contingency Fund Controversy
At the heart of the crisis is a $5.3 billion to $6 billion USDA contingency fund—money that Democrats and advocates say should be used to cover at least part of November’s estimated $8-9 billion in SNAP costs.
The Trump administration initially claimed it lacked legal authority to use these emergency funds during a shutdown. However, Sharon Parrott, president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and former Office of Management and Budget official, called this claim “unequivocally false.”
“The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves—billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate that remain available during the shutdown,” Parrott stated.
The USDA’s own shutdown contingency plan, which has since been taken offline, noted that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue” and referenced that the contingency fund can be used during fiscal year funding lapses.
New Work Requirements Take Effect
Adding to the crisis, new work requirements from the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect November 1. The expanded requirements now apply to SNAP enrollees through age 64 and to parents of children ages 14 and older. Enrollees can only receive benefits for three months out of every 36 months unless they meet work requirements of at least 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or job training.
Seventeen states have already stopped accepting new SNAP applications due to the funding uncertainty.
The Political Stalemate
The government shutdown, which began October 1, has now become the second-longest in U.S. history. The impasse centers on Democratic demands for an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies in any short-term spending bill. Republicans blame Democrats for refusing to pass a clean funding bill, while Democrats argue Republicans are “weaponizing hunger” and refusing to negotiate in good faith.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised the court rulings, saying “The law is very clear. Funds do exist within the administration for exactly this reason.” He emphasized that Democrats want a bipartisan funding agreement to reopen the government and accused Trump of being “unwilling to actually be there for everyday Americans, working class Americans and middle class Americans.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s top economic adviser Kevin Hassett criticized what he called a “liberal judge ruling,” warning that using emergency USDA funds for SNAP could leave the agency vulnerable if hurricanes or other emergencies occur.
Other Safety Net Programs at Risk
SNAP isn’t the only program affected by the shutdown. Other critical safety net programs are also in jeopardy:
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): The program serving nearly 7 million pregnant women, new mothers, and young children received a $300 million infusion from tariff revenue to keep it operating through October. Whether it can continue providing benefits in November remains unclear.
Head Start: Beginning November 1, more than 65,000 children and families in 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico face losing access to early education and child development services.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): As winter approaches, this program that helps struggling families pay heating bills may run out of funds. The program received about $4 billion in funding last fiscal year.
What Comes Next?
Even with the court orders requiring use of contingency funds, the logistics of restarting benefit distribution will take time. States halted the process of issuing benefits after receiving a USDA letter on October 10. They must now restart the process of sending SNAP enrollees’ information to vendors to load funds onto benefit cards—a process that typically happens days or weeks before the beginning of each month.
The contingency fund, estimated at $5.3-6 billion, won’t cover the full $8-9 billion needed for November benefits, meaning many recipients will receive reduced benefits even if the administration complies with the court orders.
Lauren Bauer, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, noted that while SNAP benefits don’t technically expire at the end of each month, beneficiaries typically use all funds within the month they receive them. The delay and potential reduction in benefits will have immediate and severe impacts on millions of families.
How to Help
For those wanting to assist SNAP recipients during this crisis:
- Donate to local food banks: Non-perishable proteins (canned chicken, tuna, salmon, beans, nut butters), pasta, rice, and hygiene products (tampons, pads, diapers, wipes) are most needed
- Become a “grocery buddy”: Join community Facebook groups to offer shopping assistance or gift cards to local grocers
- Support local restaurants offering free meals: Many are providing meals to those with SNAP/EBT cards
- Contact your representatives: Call and email your congressional representatives to urge them to end the shutdown
- Donate money: Many states and local organizations are accepting monetary donations to support emergency food assistance
Conclusion
As this unprecedented crisis unfolds, millions of American families face an uncertain future. While state governments and communities are mounting heroic efforts to fill the gap, the scale of need far exceeds available resources. The coming weeks will test not only the resilience of America’s most vulnerable citizens but also the nation’s political will to protect its most basic safety net.
With Thanksgiving approaching and winter on the horizon, the pressure is mounting for Congress and the Trump administration to find a resolution that restores SNAP benefits and reopens the federal government. Until then, 42 million Americans—including 16 million children—remain in limbo, unsure where their next meal will come from.
This article will be updated as the situation develops.
For the latest information on SNAP benefits in your state, contact your state’s social services department or visit your local food bank’s website.
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