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New York declares state of emergency to fund food banks as federal food aid set to lapse

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/30 .. food-banks-as-federal-food-aid-set-to-lapse.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, October 30th 2025 at 14:37 GMT by reuters.com
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New York Declares State Emergency to Preserve Food Banks as Federal Aid Set to Expire

On October 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the State of New York would declare a state of emergency to secure critical funding for food banks across the Empire State, after the federal emergency food assistance program is slated to lapse on November 30. The declaration is aimed at preventing a sudden shortfall in nutrition aid for more than 2 million residents who rely on community pantries and soup kitchens.

The Federal Funding Gap

The federal program that has underpinned New York’s food assistance ecosystem is the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). EFAP, which was expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act, has provided an annual budget of roughly $800 million to state food banks, emergency food providers, and school nutrition programs. The USDA announced in early October that its FY 2025 emergency allotments would terminate on November 30, 2025, unless Congress renews the program or alternative funding is secured.

The end of EFAP coincides with the expiration of the Pandemic-Emergency Food Assistance (PEFA) and the Pandemic-Emergency Broadband and Nutrition (PEBT) programs, which together served about 3 million households. With the federal safety net disappearing, the state’s emergency declaration allows it to reallocate funds from its emergency reserve to the food banks without waiting for new appropriations.

State Emergency Funds and Allocation

Under New York’s emergency management statutes, the governor can activate the State Emergency Fund (SEF) to cover urgent needs. Hochul’s announcement specifies an allocation of $60 million from the SEF, earmarked for the New York State Food Bank Association (NYSFBA) and the Food Bank for the City of New York (FBCNY). The funds are to be distributed through a two‑tier process: first, a baseline grant of $15 million to each of the 20 largest food banks, and second, a supplemental $45 million to cover operating expenses, distribution logistics, and emergency procurement of food items.

The emergency declaration also permits the state to waive certain regulatory requirements—such as the usual procurement audits—so that food banks can receive and distribute supplies more rapidly. The state will work closely with the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to monitor usage and ensure that the funds are directed to high‑impact locations.

Statements from Key Officials

Governor Hochul emphasized the urgency in a televised address: “New York’s communities rely on food banks for more than 30 percent of the nation’s most vulnerable families. When federal assistance ends, we must act decisively to keep the shelves full and the meals coming.” She pledged that the emergency funding would “bridge the gap until Congress can enact new legislation” and that the state would continue to advocate for permanent federal support.

Melissa Hughes, CEO of the Food Bank for the City of New York, expressed relief: “The emergency funds will allow us to keep our operations running through the next three months. We’ve already secured the supply chain for staple foods, and we can maintain our partnership with local farms and grocery stores.” Hughes also highlighted the role of the “Neighborhood Food Rescue” program, which redistributes unsold produce from supermarkets to food banks, as a critical component of the state’s strategy.

Dr. Carlos González, a nutrition scientist at the New York‑City Department of Health, noted that the emergency program will help prevent a spike in food insecurity. “Studies show that families who lose access to food assistance are at higher risk for chronic illnesses and mental health challenges,” he said. “By maintaining the flow of nutritious food, we protect not only stomachs but also long‑term public health.”

Impact on Local Communities

The emergency declaration is expected to avert a severe decline in available food. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, New York’s food banks distribute over 20 million pounds of food each year. The federal lapse would have cut this figure by roughly 25 percent. By redirecting $60 million to the food system, the state aims to offset that loss and keep distribution levels within 90 percent of the historical average.

In the Bronx, the Bronx Food Bank has already announced it will allocate a portion of the emergency grant to a mobile pantry that serves low‑income neighborhoods. Meanwhile, in Rochester, the Schenectady County Food Bank plans to use the funds to secure a cold‑chain storage unit, ensuring that perishable items remain safe and fresh.

Looking Ahead

While the emergency funding provides a stopgap, officials recognize that a long‑term solution requires federal action. New York’s State House and Senate are already drafting bipartisan legislation to request Congress to extend EFAP and other food assistance programs. The state is also lobbying for a $5 billion appropriation to the USDA’s Food Safety and Nutrition Division, which would ensure that food banks receive sufficient support for the next fiscal year.

In the meantime, the emergency declaration stands as a testament to the state’s commitment to safeguarding food security for its residents. The Governor’s proactive stance—mobilizing emergency funds, streamlining regulatory processes, and engaging with food banks—provides a model for other states facing similar federal funding gaps.

For further details, the Food Bank for the City of New York’s website offers a real‑time dashboard of aid distribution: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/, while the USDA’s page on the Emergency Food Assistance Program can be accessed at https://www.fns.usda.gov/efap.