At least 25 states plan to cut off food aid benefits in November

Millions of low-income Americans could lose access to food assistance beginning November 1, as half of U.S. states prepare to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The looming cutoff would leave tens of millions without the aid they depend on for groceries, adding another layer of hardship as the holidays approach.

Half the Country Bracing for Food Aid Cuts

According to a POLITICO report, 25 states have confirmed plans to issue notices informing SNAP participants that benefits will not be distributed next month.

Those states include California, Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Other states have yet to respond or finalize contingency plans as the shutdown continues into its fourth week.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers the SNAP program, recently instructed all states to pause benefit distributions until further notice, multiple state agencies confirmed.

The message has left governors and local administrators scrambling to prepare for what could be one of the largest disruptions to food aid in the program’s history.

Governors Sound the Alarm

In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey warned that the funding lapse would have devastating effects for families in need. “President Donald Trump is the first president in U.S. history to cut off SNAP benefits to people in America,” Healey told reporters at the state capitol on Wednesday.

She emphasized that states simply cannot make up the difference. “The state funding can’t begin to match what the federal government provides,” Healey said. Her state is among those expected to end benefits starting November 1, unless Congress reaches an agreement to reopen the government.

A Shutdown with Real Consequences

The standoff in Washington over spending priorities has already disrupted several federal programs, but nutrition assistance is emerging as one of the most urgent casualties. SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, serving more than 42 million Americans each month.

Families enrolled in the program receive an average of $187.20 per month to buy food. For millions of households, that money represents the difference between a stocked pantry and an empty refrigerator.

A suspension of benefits would hit right before Thanksgiving, a time when food insecurity traditionally spikes.

States Running Out of Options

State agencies are doing what they can to fill the gap, but resources are quickly drying up. Some states have tapped emergency reserves or temporary funds from the Trump administration, but officials say those dollars won’t stretch far.

“The state funding and private donations simply can’t replace billions in federal aid,” said one state food assistance director who requested anonymity. “We’re preparing for the worst, but hoping the shutdown ends before November 1.”

To keep SNAP running nationwide, the federal government would need to free up more than $8 billion — an amount currently frozen as the shutdown drags on.

The USDA and White House Response

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the growing crisis in an interview with NewsNation on Tuesday. “We just can’t do it without the government being open,” she said.

“By Nov. 1, we are very hopeful this government reopens and we can begin moving that money out. But right now, half the states are shut down on SNAP.”

Rollins emphasized that the administration remains committed to finding a solution but noted that federal agencies are bound by law to halt disbursements once appropriations lapse. Until Congress passes a funding bill, the USDA cannot guarantee payments for November.

Ripple Effects on Food Banks and Families

The timing of the cutoff could not be worse. Food banks and pantries across the country are already bracing for increased demand heading into the holiday season. If SNAP benefits are delayed or canceled, they expect a surge in families seeking emergency food assistance.

“We’re already operating at capacity,” said a representative from the Houston Food Bank. “If millions lose their benefits even for a week, we’ll see lines around the block.”

Local charities and nonprofits fear that shortages could occur quickly if families turn to them as a substitute for lost federal support.

Even a Deal Could Bring Delays

Even if lawmakers strike a deal before the end of October, many states say it will take time to restart the system. The administrative process for distributing SNAP benefits involves multiple layers of coordination between state and federal databases.

For example, Kansas’ Department for Children and Families told POLITICO that it would need at least three days to fully reboot SNAP after the government reopens. That means families could still face temporary gaps in assistance, even under the best-case scenario.

A Growing Crisis Without an End Date

As the shutdown stretches on, the uncertainty surrounding SNAP is heightening anxiety for millions of households already living paycheck to paycheck. Anti-hunger advocates warn that the situation underscores how deeply intertwined federal programs are with everyday survival for low-income Americans.

Without swift action from Congress, the nation’s most vulnerable could face empty cupboards by November — a stark reminder that political gridlock in Washington has real, human costs far beyond the halls of power.

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