It looks like millions may go hungry as the government shutdown continues. In just over a week, nearly 42 million people in the U.S. who get federal food assistance are in danger of seeing their benefits disappear because of the ongoing federal shutdown.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income Americans. It continues to serve over 42 million people nationwide through 2025. Eligibility depends on income, household size, and allowable deductions, with certain non-citizens also qualifying. Benefits are delivered through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used at authorized retailers.
Recent policy changes, including the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” have expanded work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents and restricted non-citizen eligibility. Federal contributions to administrative costs will also decrease, shifting more responsibility to states. States can implement additional restrictions, such as Nebraska banning soda and energy drinks from SNAP purchases, with other states seeking similar waivers.
About 1 in 8 U.S. residents get an average of $187 a month through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, one of those people is Shari Jablonowski. NPR reports that the 66-year-old widow, who lives outside Pittsburgh, is bracing to lose the $291 in food aid her disabled nephew gets each month. “This month, I could not afford to pay… anything, gas or electric,” she says.
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The 2025 federal government shutdown has caused major disruptions to SNAP, putting millions of low-income Americans at risk of losing access to essential food benefits. SNAP, which supports over 42 million recipients nationwide, relies on federal funding to issue monthly benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. While October benefits were processed using previously allocated funds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that funding for SNAP will be suspended starting Nov. 1 unless the government reopens.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is the country’s largest anti-hunger program.
“The vast majority are children, working people, older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities,” Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, says of food stamp recipients. “If the SNAP program shuts down, we will have the most mass hunger suffering we’ve had in America since the Great Depression.”
Several states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Oklahoma, have already warned residents that November benefits may not be issued. This creates immediate challenges for families who rely on SNAP to cover grocery costs, particularly in households with children, elderly members, or individuals with disabilities. State agencies are encouraging recipients to use remaining EBT balances carefully and to seek assistance from local food banks and community organizations during the funding gap.
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Advocacy groups and some lawmakers have urged the USDA to deploy contingency funds to maintain benefits, but no definitive plan has been confirmed. The situation underscores the vulnerability of essential social programs during federal funding interruptions and highlights the critical need for timely government action to prevent widespread food insecurity.
While SNAP is being threatened, the Senate on Thursday reportedly rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week.
Beyond the immediate financial strain on families, the uncertainty caused by a shutdown can exacerbate stress, health risks, and long-term hardship, particularly for vulnerable populations. This situation underscores the need for policymakers to prioritize continuity of essential services and reinforces the critical role of SNAP in promoting both nutritional security and economic resilience across the nation.