Overview
- The USDA posted a public notice stating benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1, placing roughly 41–42 million SNAP recipients at immediate risk.
- An agency memo says contingency funds will not be tapped to keep monthly payments flowing during the shutdown, citing limits on their use for disaster response.
- Policy groups including the Center for American Progress and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities argue the reserve holds about $5–6 billion and could cover most of November’s roughly $8.3 billion need.
- States are weighing limited stopgaps, with Louisiana moving toward a $150 million allocation and California shifting $80 million and deploying the National Guard for food distribution, yet officials warn payments may still be delayed and federal reimbursement is not assured.
- Food banks report they are already stretched by higher demand and warn a cutoff would overwhelm local pantries, with leaders in Oregon and the D.C. region describing surging visits and constrained supplies.