SNAP Pause Could Be First Interruption; Looting Threats

Videos on TikTok show SNAP recipients threatening to loot grocery stores or stage coordinated mass-theft events at retailers like Walmart if Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are paused on Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown. Several clips urge people to “walk out” with full carts at set times and have drawn tens of thousands of views and responses, and some beneficiaries reported receiving text alerts warning November payments could be frozen. Roughly 42 million Americans — about 1 in 8 — rely on SNAP, which averages about $350 per household per month. A USDA announcement and failed congressional votes to end the shutdown have intensified outrage, and analysts and advocates warn sudden interruptions in food aid can heighten food insecurity, increase crime risk and cause broader humanitarian harm. Some outlets say a pause would amount to the first complete interruption of SNAP in its roughly 60-year history, prompting concern from officials and advocates about potential social unrest if benefits are not restored.