Several state governments have begun warning the millions of Americans who rely on SNAP food stamps that they could lose their benefits as early as November if the federal government shutdown is not resolved.

The different government agencies in some states The US has issued alerts about possible interruptions in the delivery of SNAP food stamp benefits.

“Beginning October 16, SNAP benefits will not be paid until the federal government shutdown ends and funding is released to Pennsylvania,” reads one message on the Pennsylvania state website.

Other states such as New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Texas have also issued similar notices, reflecting widespread concern about the impact of the standstill on low-income families.

The crisis stems from a letter from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to state agencies on October 10, warning that the program was running out of funds to pay out all SNAP benefits.

“If the current disruption in budget allocations continues, there will not be enough funds to pay out all November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million people,” reads one message on the Pennsylvania state website. people across the country," the USDA stated in its letter.

Why is the government shutdown affecting SNAP?

The SNAP program is designed to provide food assistance to more than 40 million Americans facing financial hardship. The aid is delivered via electronic SNAP (EBT) card that recipients use to purchase basic foods such as meats, dairy products, and fruits. On average, a recipient receives about $187 per month.

Although it is a federal program, states administer it: they send recipient data to EBT processors so that the cards are loaded in real time.

“EBT processors need to get all of this data in a timely manner,” explained Gina Plata-Nino, acting SNAP director at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), a nonprofit focused on ending hunger. the money is available for the merchant to swipe.”

Due to the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025, the USDA has indicated that states must stop sending electronic files to EBT providers “until further notice,” which disrupts the critical technical process for reloading benefit cards.

Furthermore, while the program has contingency funding (an estimated $6 billion was available), it is unclear whether the USDA plans to use it to cover November. benefits.

“This administration didn't do any of that [this time], but they still have the contingency funding…” Plata-Nino said. “They have the money, so it's really a political decision.”

It's also possible that states could try to release funds from their own budgets to fill the gap, although approval would be an uphill battle, given that covering SNAP benefits costs tens to hundreds of millions of dollars per month. that money.