Shutdown Suspends November SNAP Benefits for 42 Million

The ongoing federal government shutdown prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to notify states that November SNAP allotments will be suspended until federal funding is restored. The USDA said it will not tap its roughly $6 billion contingency fund, which it says is reserved for disasters, leaving about 42 million Americans at risk of missing benefits. Some states — including limited pledges of support from New York — and localities are exploring stopgap measures, but officials say they cannot sustainably backfill the resulting $90 million-plus monthly shortfalls. State impacts cited include about 500,000 people in Nevada, 855,000 in Arizona, 440,000 in Minnesota and more than 165,000 in Hawai‘i, with thousands in Maui County facing immediate gaps. Food banks, pantries, schools and nonprofits are expanding emergency distributions as recipients, especially seniors, children and working families, prepare for disruptions while urging Congress to restore funding.