Washington directs $2.2M weekly to food banks amid SNAP funding cutoff

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has directed nearly $2.2 million per week to food banks in anticipation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits cutoff on November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. Nearly 1 million residents, including a high proportion in rural areas like Yakima County, depend on SNAP, which provides approximately $37 million weekly in federal aid to the state. Ferguson criticized President Trump and congressional Republicans for the shutdown and its impact on SNAP recipients, urging public support for food banks through donations or volunteering. The state Department of Social and Health Services will transfer funds to the Department of Agriculture, which administers grants to food banks, starting November 3 if federal funding is not restored. Additionally, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, challenging the legality of suspending SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Food banks are already facing increased demand amid rising costs and reduced donations, highlighting the urgency of these state-level interventions.