WASHINGTON, D.C. – Millions of Americans are bracing for a lapse in food assistance as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of funding at midnight tonight, the latest casualty of a prolonged federal government shutdown that began October 1. With Congress deadlocked over spending bills, more than 40 million people—including children, seniors, veterans, and low-income families—will not receive their November benefits.
The shutdown began when lawmakers failed to pass appropriations legislation by the September 30 deadline, triggering an automatic funding lapse for many federal agencies. The House passed a short-term continuing resolution that would have funded the government through late November, but the Senate did not advance the measure. The impasse stems from disputes over spending levels and policy riders, including cuts to health insurance subsidies and social safety net programs.
The standoff has lasted over a month, making it one of the longest in U.S. history. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy between $7 billion and $14 billion, with ripple effects throughout rural communities, agriculture, and food systems.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) said Senate Democrats are to blame for the breakdown, accusing them of holding families hostage for political leverage.
“Because Senate Democrats insist on keeping the federal government shut down, more than 40 million Americans—including children, seniors, veterans, and military families—will not receive their November SNAP benefits beginning this weekend,” Thompson said. “The House passed a clean continuing resolution; one Democrats previously supported 13 times under President Biden. Had the Senate done its job, SNAP benefits would go out in full and undisrupted in November.”
Thompson added that the USDA “does not have the funds to cover these benefits without jeopardizing meals for children in school, infant formula for low-income women and children, and disaster SNAP benefits.” He called the situation “a choice with real consequences,” urging Senate Democrats to “end this shutdown immediately.”
Democrats, however, say the Trump administration is responsible for the lapse in benefits. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) responded after a press conference where Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged that the government is “failing the American people.”
“Secretary Rollins said one honest thing today: The government is failing the American people,” Craig said. “Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House. The Trump administration has the legal authority and funds necessary to get November SNAP benefits out the door. They are illegally withholding food from 42 million Americans, and it is shameful.”
At the same press conference, Secretary Rollins emphasized that the administration is aware of the hardship facing families. “My message to America is first, the fact that your government is failing you right now,” she said. “That poverty is not red or blue. It is not a Republican or Democrat issue. If you are in a position where you can’t feed your family, and you are relying on that $187 a month for an average family in the SNAP program, we have failed you.”
The political stalemate comes months after congressional Republicans passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which Democrats have called the largest cut to SNAP in U.S. history. The law reduced funding for the program by $186 billion, setting the stage for the current crisis.
Beyond Washington, industry groups and farm leaders are expressing growing frustration as the shutdown ripples through the agricultural economy.
“The shutdown is affecting everyone. Farmers have lost access to USDA resources, and now families and communities are losing support for vital food programs,” said Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing. “Farmers work hard to feed our communities, and Farm Bureau has long partnered with food shelves and organizations across the state to address food insecurity. Now, it’s time for both sides of Congress to come together, put Americans first, and keep our country moving forward.”
As the midnight deadline looms, food banks across the nation are preparing for a surge in demand. Feeding America and local partners say they expect to see lines grow over the weekend as families scramble to fill the gap. Economists warn that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the long-term damage to households and the broader economy.
