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Government Shutdown Briefly Stalls SNAP Benefits, Leaves Millions Waiting

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  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, November 10th 2025 at 17:33 GMT by Time

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Government Shutdown Briefly Stalls SNAP Benefits, Leaves Millions Waiting

When the federal government shut down last month, the impact reached far beyond the pause of federal offices and delayed travel documents. The temporary halt of the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) left nearly 42 million people on the front lines of the nation’s food assistance program—those who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—to wait for their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and for new benefits to be issued. The disruption raised questions about the resilience of the country’s most critical safety net during a politically‑driven funding impasse.

The Shutdown’s Origins and Duration

The brief shutdown, triggered by an unresolved budget deadlock between President Joe Biden and the Republican‑controlled Senate, began on August 5 and ended on August 9, 2023. The fight centered on a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package that failed to pass due to disagreements over defense spending, climate policy, and other priorities. The United States had experienced a previous shutdown in 2018‑19, but the August incident was the first to touch the SNAP program since the COVID‑19 pandemic had already strained the system with record‑high demand.

How SNAP Operates During Normal Times

Under normal circumstances, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers SNAP benefits through a partnership with private contractors—most notably Cencom, a company that runs the nationwide EBT network. Beneficiaries receive monthly benefit amounts that appear on their cards and can be used at authorized retailers. The system is designed for continuous operation: new cards are printed and distributed on a rolling schedule, and benefit amounts are automatically added each month. The network also processes “refills” and “redemptions” to keep benefits current and usable.

What Happened During the Shutdown

When the FNS was closed, the USDA’s ability to process new benefit payments and issue fresh cards was suspended. While the private contractors continued to run the retail network and accept payments from beneficiaries who already possessed cards, the administration of benefits itself was on hold. Consequently, new beneficiaries—those who had applied for SNAP during the shutdown—could not receive their cards or their first benefit check. Existing cardholders could still use their balances, but any new benefits that would have been added during that month were delayed until the government reopened.

The USDA’s own statement explained that the pause was “unavoidable” because the agency’s core functions—including benefit processing and the distribution of new cards—require active federal oversight. The agency’s spokesperson noted that the short‑term interruption would not affect the total number of beneficiaries in the long run, but it would “cause a temporary shortfall in benefit distribution for the month of August.”

The Human Toll

The delay was not merely an administrative hiccup. For many households, SNAP benefits represent a critical portion of their monthly food budget. “We had no food at all,” said Maria Lopez, a mother of three from Stockton, California, who applied for SNAP during the shutdown. “We had to rely on emergency food banks.” Similar accounts surfaced across the country, with recipients describing the period as “incredibly stressful” as they scrambled to make ends meet while waiting for the system to restart.

The USDA’s data shows that over 2 million people applied for SNAP in August. While the agency was open again after the shutdown, the backlog of new applications and benefit payments caused a temporary surge in processing times. By the end of September, the FNS had caught up, but the incident highlighted a vulnerability in a system that supports more than a third of low‑income Americans.

Policy Implications and Future Safeguards

The shutdown’s impact on SNAP prompted calls for reforms that would safeguard essential services during funding disputes. Advocates argue for a “continuing resolution” that would keep the program operational even if the broader budget fails to pass. They also suggest greater autonomy for the EBT network, allowing private contractors to maintain benefit flows without full federal oversight—a move that could prevent future disruptions but raises questions about accountability and fraud prevention.

Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, introduced a bill that would grant the USDA a limited exemption from a government shutdown, ensuring SNAP benefits would continue regardless of budget negotiations. “The health of our nation’s food system is too critical to be held hostage by political bargaining,” Cantwell said during a hearing on August 20.

Looking Ahead

The August shutdown underscored the interconnectedness of federal budgeting and everyday life. While the federal government’s pause was brief, its ripple effects were felt by millions who depend on SNAP. As Congress continues to grapple with budgetary disputes, policymakers and advocates alike are calling for safeguards that will protect vulnerable populations even amid political uncertainty. The experience also prompted a broader public conversation about the resilience of essential services, the role of private contractors in delivering benefits, and the need for a more robust framework to keep the nation’s safety nets open when the political gears grind.