For millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), November 1, 2025, is shaping up to be a day of anxiety and uncertainty. With the federal government in the throes of a shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that no SNAP benefits will be distributed at the start of the month, leaving approximately 42 million people—about 20 million households—without their usual food assistance.
The abrupt halt in benefits comes after lawmakers in Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding allocations for the 2026 fiscal year. As a result, parts of the government ceased operations on October 1, 2025, and the effects have rippled across essential services, from air travel to food assistance programs. According to USA TODAY, the USDA made its position clear in a message posted on October 27, stating, "Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1."
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, is a federal program designed to help low-income families afford healthy food. Benefits are typically loaded onto Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards each month. In October, the program continued as usual, but the USDA had been warning for weeks that November's payments were in jeopardy if the shutdown dragged on. The agency’s shutdown contingency plan, which was removed from its website in late September, originally outlined the use of reserve funds to cover benefits. However, as detailed in a letter shared with USA TODAY, those contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when there are appropriations—something that no longer exists for the new fiscal year.
"The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists," the USDA stated. The letter also made it clear that states cannot pay for SNAP benefits and expect reimbursement later, even if they are willing to front the money. "The best way for SNAP to continue is for the shutdown to end," the letter concluded.
The impact of this funding lapse is immediate and far-reaching. According to Axios, the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed state agencies that November SNAP payments would not be forthcoming and that it would not tap into emergency funds to cover food stamps. This means that, come November 1, many Americans will be left scrambling to buy food and other essentials.
Yet, there is a small silver lining. EBT cards themselves will not stop working, and any unspent SNAP funds from October or previous months will still be available for use. As the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services notes, SNAP benefits do not expire for an entire calendar year. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) reassured constituents in a press release: "Your existing card will continue to work, but your regular payment will not appear. Keep your EBT Card active." Mackenzie Libbey of Community Legal Services echoed this point to CBS News, explaining, "That's money that's already been appropriated. It's been put on their card."
However, experts caution that this technicality offers little practical relief for most recipients. Lauren Bauer of the Brookings Institution told Axios that "about 80 percent of benefits are spent in the first two weeks and 97 percent by the end of the month." In other words, by November, the vast majority of SNAP recipients have already used up their funds, leaving few with a cushion to fall back on as the new month begins.
This spending pattern doesn't just affect families—it also hits grocery stores, which rely on SNAP spending as a significant source of revenue. A sudden drop in SNAP usage can lead to broader declines in general spending, compounding economic woes at the community level.
States have responded in different ways to the looming crisis. New Hampshire, for instance, recommended that beneficiaries use all their funds before October 31, while Oklahoma urged families to budget carefully ahead of the November 1 cutoff. Virginia took the extraordinary step of declaring a state of emergency so it could use state funds to pay for benefits, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis requested up to $10 million to support food banks as demand surges.
Food banks and subsidized meal programs are already feeling the strain as families prepare for the freeze in benefits. According to USA TODAY, SNAP recipients are being encouraged to seek assistance from these organizations during the funding gap. Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, has reported a noticeable uptick in demand as the shutdown’s effects become more pronounced.
The political blame game is in full swing. The USDA, led by Trump appointee Brooke Rollins, has pointed fingers at Democratic lawmakers for the impasse, asserting in its October 27 message that "Senate Democrats... can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance." Health care policy, particularly around the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, remains a major sticking point in negotiations. Democrats are pushing to reverse Republican cuts to these programs, while Republicans argue that such debates can wait until after the government is reopened.
While the USDA's message and Republican officials have placed the blame squarely on Democrats, the reality is more complex. The shutdown is the result of a broader failure to reach consensus on government funding, and the consequences are now being felt by millions of ordinary Americans. The USDA had warned as early as October 10 that there would be "insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits" if the shutdown continued. By October 22, the agency was alerting states that an "inflection point" was approaching not just for SNAP, but also for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
For those who depend on SNAP, the path forward is uncertain. Many experts and advocates recommend that recipients continue to apply for or renew their benefits, so that when the shutdown ends, any missed payments can be sent retroactively to their EBT cards. In the meantime, families are being urged to keep their cards secure and to check with their state agencies for information on alternative food assistance resources.
As the government shutdown drags on, the ripple effects are only beginning to be felt. The fate of SNAP recipients—and the broader communities that depend on the program—hangs in the balance, waiting for a resolution that remains elusive in the halls of Congress.