Overview
- About 42 million people risk delayed or halted November food benefits as the shutdown reaches its fourth week.
- A USDA memo and website advisory say contingency funds and other nutrition accounts will not be tapped, declaring there will be "no benefits issued November 01."
- The reserve holds roughly $5–$6 billion versus about $9 billion needed for a full month, and officials note pro rata payouts would still have missed most November deadlines.
- States are mounting limited responses — Virginia moved to fund November benefits and New York and California are directing money to food banks — while Maryland and Alaska officials say replacing federal transfers is not feasible without reimbursement or system changes.
- Food banks warn they cannot absorb the shortfall, with a Propel survey finding 44% of recipients expect to skip meals and 60% plan to seek food-bank help, as lawmakers introduce stand‑alone SNAP patches that have yet to pass.