States Mobilize as SNAP Funding Pauses

The federal government shutdown has paused SNAP funding and risks exhausting discretionary SNAP dollars as soon as Nov. 1; federal judges have begun intervening while states scramble to fill the gap. Rhode Island faces about 140,000–145,000 affected residents and a pause of roughly $28–29 million in monthly SNAP funds; Gov. Dan McKee declared a state of emergency and is using about $6 million in TANF/federal program funds to load partial EBT payments (25% on Nov. 1 and another 25% on Nov. 16 for eligible families), though TANF eligibility rules mean roughly 80,000 SNAP recipients will receive no state-funded benefits. The state is also directing $200,000 to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and coordinating with local nonprofits, soup kitchens and city food drives. In North Dakota, roughly 60,000 SNAP recipients are threatened; Gov. Kelly Armstrong plans to announce state actions and the Great Plains Food Bank has launched emergency fundraising. Other governors have authorized emergency funding or declared emergencies — Maryland and Wyoming authorized about $10 million each for food banks and New Jersey declared a state of emergency — but officials warn these stopgaps (Maryland’s $10 million would cover under 10% of a typical month’s SNAP benefits) will leave many residents dependent on additional state, philanthropic and federal remedies; some states, like Wisconsin, face legal limits on unilaterally replacing benefits.