States worry about how to fill the gap in food aid ahead of a federal
benefits halt
[October 24, 2025]
By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Officials in Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia pledged Thursday to keep
food aid flowing to recipients in their states, even if the federal
program is stalled next month because of the government shutdown.
The fate of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,
which helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries, is becoming a deep
concern as it gets closer to Nov. 1, when the benefits could dry up
without either a resolution of the federal government shutdown or other
action.
Other states have explored using their own funds to prop up the program
but have run into technical roadblocks, and it wasn't clear whether the
three newly announced plans have answers for those. Legislative
officials in Vermont said they’re waiting word from the state
administration on how the benefit would be delivered.
Here's what to know.
Some states are announcing plans, but details have been scarce
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, said he was declaring a
state of emergency to provide food benefits to SNAP beneficiaries. A
spokesperson said details on how it would work are coming later.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, another Republican, said he was making it a
top priority to make sure “seniors, individuals with disabilities, and
children who rely on food stamps do not go hungry in Louisiana,” but he
has also not detailed how.
New Hampshire officials announced a plan to increase access to food
through food banks and mobile pantries. It would require approval of a
legislative committee in the GOP-controlled state.
Vermont lawmakers also said Thursday they intend to have the state cover
both the food aid and heating fuel assistance that's at risk.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said this week that he would
deploy the National Guard to help food banks. “This is serious, this is
urgent – and requires immediate action,” he said.
States have limited ability to help
Officials from Alaska, New Mexico and North Dakota have said that
they’ve considered using state money to keep the food aid flowing but
fear a federal government directive may make that impossible.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, told states
earlier this month not to send information to the vendors who provide
the debit cards because of uncertainty about whether the program would
be funded in November.
Officials in the states say that federal control of the system appears
to stand in the way of their attempts to fund the program on their own.
“Without action from USDA, I think it is highly unlikely that any states
would issue November SNAP benefits,” Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst at
the advocacy group Share Our Strength, said in an email. “On top of the
technical challenges, states can’t shoulder that cost, especially with
the risk it wouldn’t be refunded.”
It's not certain the program will be paused, but it's looking likely
Lower-income families who qualify for SNAP receive debit cards loaded
each month by the federal government that work only for groceries at
participating stores and farmers markets.
The average monthly benefit is $187 per person. Most beneficiaries have
incomes at or below the poverty level.
Time is running short to keep benefits flowing in November.
Congress and President Donald Trump could strike a deal to end the
federal shutdown that started Oct. 1.
It’s also possible that the Trump administration would allocate money
for the program even if the shutdown continues. The liberal Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that about $5 billion is
available in a contingency fund and is calling on the administration to
use that for partial benefits in November, but it's not clear if that's
being seriously discussed.
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Volunteer Ollie Taylor fills bags with food at the Coconut Grove
Crisis Food Pantry, which offers fresh food and meals free of charge
on a weekly basis to residents, Aug. 26, 2025, in the Coconut Grove
neighborhood of Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Forty-six of the 47 Democrats in the U.S. Senate sent a letter
Thursday to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on her to
release the contingency money.
The USDA has not answered questions from The Associated Press about
whether those funds might be tapped.
States have also indicated that there could be a delay in benefits
even if a deal is struck to fund SNAP for November.
Losing SNAP could mean tough choices for beneficiaries
Sylvia Serrano gets $100 every month to help buy groceries for
herself and the four grandchildren she’s raising in Camden, New
Jersey.
Two of her grandkids have autism, and because of their aversions to
certain textures they eat only certain foods that are unlikely to be
available at food banks.
The act of getting food could also be harder for her without SNAP.
She now does her shopping while the kids are at school, using a
grocery store that’s close to home due to her not-so-reliable car.
She says that with SNAP, she can mostly stay up on her other
expenses. Without it? “I would have to send less payment into a bill
or something in order to cover the needs and then the bills are
going to get behind,” Serrano said.
Some states are encouraging stocking up and seeking other help
Some states are telling SNAP recipients to be ready for the benefits
to stop.
Arkansas is advising recipients to identify food pantries and other
groups that might be able to help, and to ask friends and family for
aid.
It's unclear whether any benefits left on recipients EBT cards on
Nov. 1 will be available to use. Arkansas officials suggest people
who have balances on their cards to use it this month on
shelf-stable foods.
Missouri and Pennsylvania officials, on the other hand, expect
previous benefits will remain accessible and are telling
beneficiaries to save for November if they can.
Oklahoma is encouraging people who receive benefits to visit a state
website that connects people with nonprofits, faith-based groups,
Native American tribes and others that may be able to help with
food.
Food banks could be the fallback for many beneficiaries
Separate federal program cuts this year have already put food banks
that supply food pantries in a tough spot, said George Matysik, the
executive director of Share Food Program in Philadelphia.
So dealing with an anticipated surge in demand could be tough.
Matysik said it's especially acute for his organization and others
in Pennsylvania, where a state government budget impasse has meant
at least a pause in another funding stream. He said the group has
had to cut about 20% of its budget, or $8.5 million, this year.
“Any time we have a crisis, it’s always the working class that feels
the pain first," he said.
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Associated Press reporters Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California;
Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska;
Jack Brook in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North
Dakota; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; John Hanna in Topeka,
Kansas; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Morgan Lee in Santa
Fe, New Mexico; Michael Casey in Boston; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma
City contributed to this article.
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