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Government shutdown will soon impact SNAP food aid, AP Explains

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  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 18:55 GMT by Associated Press

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Government Shutdown Looms Over SNAP Food Aid, AP Explains

As lawmakers race to avert a federal shutdown, a looming funding impasse threatens to ripple across America’s food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). An AP News video and accompanying article break down the mechanics of how a budgetary stalemate could disrupt the distribution of millions of dollars in food aid to the nation’s most vulnerable families.

The Countdown to a Shutdown

The United States faces a potential shutdown if Congress fails to pass a continuing resolution (CR) or an appropriations bill before the federal fiscal year ends on September 30. The latest budget negotiations, highlighted in the AP report, show that while the House has moved to extend funding for the remainder of the year, the Senate has stalled on key provisions, leaving the administration no option but to shut down if a deal is not reached.

When a shutdown occurs, non-essential federal agencies are ordered to cease operations. Although core services like the Treasury and law enforcement remain active, many departments—including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—must halt most of their activities. This creates a direct line to SNAP, which relies on USDA’s processing center to issue electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that beneficiaries use to purchase groceries.

How SNAP Might Be Affected

The AP article explains that SNAP is one of the few federal programs that can, in part, continue to operate during a shutdown through emergency funding mechanisms. However, the ability to do so hinges on the USDA’s access to the necessary appropriations. Without a CR, the USDA would not receive the required funds to process applications, renew benefits, or disburse cash. As a result, the program’s capacity would shrink dramatically.

Key points raised in the video include:

1. Processing Delays
   USDA’s processing center, which handles millions of applications each year, would likely pause if the agency does not have the legal authority to operate. Even if the agency remains legally permitted to run, it would face severe staff shortages, as many employees would be furloughed.

2. Benefit Disbursement
   SNAP benefits are typically disbursed on a weekly or biweekly basis via EBT cards. A shutdown could delay the monthly issuance of these cards, leaving beneficiaries without access to food aid for weeks. The USDA has warned that any interruption could push millions of families toward food insecurity.

3. Eligibility and Renewal
   The program’s annual renewal cycle, which re-evaluates recipients’ eligibility, might be postponed. While the USDA can use emergency funds to maintain the program temporarily, a prolonged shutdown could force a temporary suspension of the renewal process, risking a backlog of pending applications.

4. Impact on State Operations
   SNAP is administered in partnership with state agencies. If the federal portion of the program stalls, states may struggle to manage and distribute benefits. Some states, already operating under tight budgets, could face additional fiscal strain.

USDA’s Contingency Plans

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the branch that runs SNAP, has outlined contingency plans to mitigate a shutdown’s impact. These include:

• Emergency Funding – The USDA can tap emergency appropriations to keep the program running for a limited period. However, such measures can only sustain operations for a short time (often a few months) before exhausting the emergency reserves.

• Prioritizing Essential Functions – FNS has indicated it would focus on maintaining critical services, such as benefit disbursement, while scaling back non-essential operations like new applications and outreach.

• Cooperation with States – The USDA plans to work closely with state SNAP agencies to keep the state-level processing centers operational, ensuring that existing beneficiaries can continue to receive assistance.

Political Dynamics and Congressional Actions

The AP article contextualizes the SNAP issue within the broader political negotiations. While the House passed a CR to extend funding through October 1, the Senate has yet to approve a corresponding measure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a bipartisan approach to avert the shutdown, but Republican opposition on spending levels and budget priorities remains a sticking point.

A related AP piece linked in the original article discusses the Senate’s “nuclear option” to force a cloture vote that could expedite the funding debate. If the Senate cannot reach a deal, the article notes that a shutdown could begin on September 30, creating a ripple effect across government operations.

Who Will Be Most Affected?

SNAP serves about 42 million Americans, including over 14 million children. The AP analysis underscores that a shutdown’s timing is critical. Should the federal government close at the very end of September, the program could be paused before the next batch of benefits is scheduled to be issued in early October, leaving many families without fresh food aid just as the school year ends and winter weather approaches.

The video also highlights that a shutdown would disproportionately affect low‑income households, the elderly, and those with disabilities—groups that rely on SNAP for day‑to‑day nutrition. It warns that any delay could lead to higher rates of food insecurity, longer wait times for assistance, and a surge in requests for emergency food aid.

Moving Forward

The AP story concludes by stressing the importance of bipartisan cooperation to prevent a shutdown. It notes that while emergency measures can provide a stopgap, the long‑term solution lies in passing a comprehensive appropriations bill that fully funds the USDA and its SNAP program.

In the weeks ahead, lawmakers will face intense pressure from constituents, advocacy groups, and the USDA itself to ensure that the nation’s millions of food‑assistance recipients do not face additional hardship. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether SNAP can continue to function as a critical safety net for millions of Americans or whether a shutdown will interrupt a vital lifeline.