The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent notices to state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) directors warning them that there will be “insufficient funds” to pay benefits should the government shutdown continue after October, according to Axios. Ronald Ward, the acting associate administrator of SNAP, said in a letter obtained by the outlet that there’s enough funding available for benefits through the rest of the month.
“However, if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation,” Ward said in the letter, which was also seen by NOTUS.
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In the letter, Ward told state agencies not to start distributing benefits to SNAP recipients’ electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards for November “until further notice.” He attributed this to “operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems.”
NOTUS reported that the memo said the USDA “has begun the process of fact finding and information gathering to be prepared in case a contingency plan must be implemented.”
One health official told NOTUS that their state is considering funding the benefits using its own money, but there are concerns that the state agencies won’t be reimbursed.
Straight Arrow News reached out to the USDA for comment.
There was also concern that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, could run out of funds as well because of the shutdown. While the program received $300 million from the Trump administration, NOTUS wrote that the health official said they’ve “received no guidance from the feds as to how that would work.”
Earlier this month, the USDA also released new guidance to assist states with rolling out SNAP changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These include expanded requirements and redefining who qualifies for assistance.
Government shutdown fallout
November’s SNAP benefits are one of a growing list of casualties in the ongoing government shutdown. On Friday, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought wrote on X that “RIF,” or reduction in force, for federal workers has begun. In a September memo, Vought alerted agencies to start prepping for the possibility of mass layoffs, specifically for programs “not consistent” with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
Asked about how many federal job cuts done under the impasse would be permanent, Trump said, “If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded by saying that “Nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this.”
Schumer added, “They don’t have to do it. They want to. They’re callously choosing to hurt people — the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos.”
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in media interviews this week attributed an increase in flight delays and cancellations to an air traffic controller staffing shortage exacerbated by the shutdown. Military service members could also miss out on next week’s paychecks if the shutdown isn’t resolved.
Senators on Thursday failed to reach a 60-vote threshold needed to reopen the government at full capacity. Republicans maintain that they want to see a basic funding bill with no extra provisions and accuse Democrats of insisting on unrelated additions. Democrats say Republicans are refusing to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Without these, health insurance premiums will rise, which Democrats say could make coverage unaffordable for many.
The Senate is not scheduled to come back until Tuesday afternoon.
