On Nov. 1, 42 million Americans could wake up without the federal assistance that helps them afford groceries. The ongoing government shutdown has frozen new funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, threatening to halt benefits that millions depend on for daily survival.
With grocery prices still high and food banks already overwhelmed, experts warn this could become one of the largest hunger crises in recent memory.
“The reality is that millions of people will be impacted,” said Rev. Heather Taylor, managing director for Bread for the World. “We know there are a few different ways in which funding could be released to ensure families continue to receive benefits. But as of now, there’s no indication that any of those methods are moving forward.”
SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, issues monthly benefits that often run out before month’s end. If the shutdown continues past October, many recipients will have already used their October allotments and will find nothing waiting when benefits are scheduled to renew Nov. 1.
“People who are already struggling to make ends meet will see their benefits disappear,” Taylor said. “Many will turn to food banks, churches and charities — but those places are already stretched to their limits. We’ve heard of parents saying they’ll drink water so their children can eat. That’s the kind of reality we shouldn’t see in this country.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture could release roughly $5 billion in emergency funds to continue SNAP benefits, but the White House has given no indication that such action is coming.
A bipartisan bill — the Keep SNAP Funded Act, introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. — could temporarily sustain the program, though Taylor said “there’s no guarantee it will move forward.”
Even if the bill passes, a second crisis is already looming. New rules passed under H.R. 1 require states to shoulder more of SNAP’s administrative costs, with some expected to cover as much as 75 percent. By 2027, states will begin paying portions of the benefits themselves, based on federally determined “error rates.”
“Some states may be able to cover costs for a short time,” Taylor said. “Others have already said they cannot. At least 90 percent or more of those who rely on SNAP will be impacted in some way.”
That impact will not be distributed evenly. Rural communities, single-parent households, veterans and the elderly are all especially at risk. In states like Kentucky, where poverty in some Appalachian regions approaches 30 percent, the fallout could be devastating.
“We know that women and communities of color are often the hardest hit,” Taylor said. “It’s just a matter of time before the effects ripple across the nation.”
Meanwhile, the Women, Infants and Children program, or WIC, which supports mothers and young children, faces similar uncertainty.
“WIC was covered through October thanks to emergency funds,” Taylor said. “Now both programs are at stake. Charities and food pantries can’t replace what these programs do. They’re the strongest anti-hunger programs we have.”
Faith communities across the U.S. are already mobilizing to help, but Taylor said advocacy is equally vital.
“People of faith can contact their members of Congress and urge them to support the Keep SNAP Funded Act,” she said. “They can pray, yes, but they can also use their voices. When tens of thousands speak up, that’s when things change.”
For now, as Congress stalls and emergency funds remain untouched, 42 million Americans are counting down the days — and meals — until the system that sustains them runs out.