Federal SNAP Food Aid Halts Nov 1 Amid U.S. Government Shutdown

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that federal food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be distributed on November 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown, which began October 1 and is now the second-longest in U.S. history. The Trump administration has decided not to use approximately $5 billion in contingency funds to sustain SNAP benefits into November, citing legal restrictions that reserve these funds for emergencies such as natural disasters. This decision threatens the food security of about one in eight Americans, expanding the impact of the shutdown to many families in need. The administration blames Democrats for the impasse, as Democrats demand reopening the government before negotiating, while Republicans insist negotiations must start first. Democratic lawmakers have appealed to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to release contingency funds for SNAP benefits, but the USDA maintains these funds are not legally available for regular benefits. The crisis has raised significant concern across states governed by both parties, highlighting the urgent need for a bipartisan resolution to reopen the government and restore food aid.