According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), federal food aid benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not be issued on Nov. 1 because of the ongoing government shutdown now in its 27th day. The department posted a notice on its website warning that “there will be no benefits issued November 01,” citing lapsed funding.
The notice used unusually political language to blame Senate Democrats for the lapse, a sharp departure from the typically neutral tone of federal agency communications. The message said the “well has run dry” and framed the impasse as a choice for lawmakers to reopen the government so vulnerable families can receive nutrition aid.
The halt would affect roughly 41–42 million SNAP recipients nationwide, raising the risk of immediate hardship for low-income households and pressure on food banks. Some states have started planning for contingency or warned of delayed payments if federal funds do not resume.
The administration has also said that it won’t use emergency or contingency funds to pay for November benefits, saying that those funds need to be kept for emergencies and other programs. Politicians from both parties are still blaming each other for how to resolve the closure and start paying again.
This is a developing story. Information will be updated as agencies and states issue new guidance.
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