On the eve of a potentially devastating disruption to food assistance, New York has declared a state of emergency as millions brace for the fallout from a federal government shutdown. Governor Kathy Hochul, speaking at a press conference on October 30, 2025, announced sweeping measures to counter the looming freeze in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—a move that could leave more than 42 million low-income Americans, including 16 million children, without critical support. In New York alone, some 3 million residents stand to lose their lifeline to basic nutrition.
The crisis stems from the Trump administration’s refusal to release billions in federally approved contingency funding for SNAP, as the government shutdown grinds on. According to ABC News and The Associated Press, the administration’s decision will cut off food assistance for millions starting November 1, 2025. Governor Hochul did not mince words: “The Trump Administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas and farmers along the way.” She added pointedly, “Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table.”
To help mitigate the immediate impact, Hochul unveiled $65 million in new state funding for emergency food assistance. The goal is to provide 40 million meals to New Yorkers through a robust network of food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens. The funding is split between $40 million for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP)—which partners with approximately 2,700 emergency food providers—and $25 million for Nourish NY, a program that channels surplus agricultural products like milk, apples, cheese, and cabbage from local farmers to those in need.
But, as Hochul acknowledged, the state’s efforts alone cannot match the scale of the federal program. New York administers around $650 million per month in federally funded SNAP benefits, an amount impossible for the state to fully backfill. “Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have the power to stop this crisis—millions of families depend on it,” Hochul emphasized, urging federal action.
In addition to financial support, the governor is deploying members of the SUNY Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps to assist food banks during the emergency. These college students already serve as peer navigators, helping others complete SNAP applications and volunteering at campus and local pantries. The new plan expands their paid hours and creates short-term crisis response positions to bolster food banks facing staffing shortages.
Hochul’s announcement comes as New York, joined by 24 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to demand the release of emergency SNAP funds. The governor also co-signed a letter with 20 other governors urging the President to reverse course and unlock the contingency funding. Earlier in the week, Hochul fast-tracked $41 million in state funds for emergency food assistance, bringing the total allocated to $106 million in a matter of days.
The state’s top officials have rallied behind the governor’s plan. New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald called the federal government’s refusal to release emergency food assistance “devastating,” warning, “Access to nutritious food is a fundamental public health necessity—it affects everything from childhood development to chronic disease prevention.” He affirmed that the State Health Department is working closely with food banks and local organizations to ensure no New Yorker goes hungry during this crisis.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. praised the mobilization of student volunteers, saying, “The SUNY students who make up the Governor’s Empire State Service Corps are proud to be part of the solution and to help their peers and neighbors.” State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa underscored the urgency: “No student should have to choose between focusing on their education and worrying about their next meal.”
Local leaders echoed the alarm. Mayor Eric Adams announced an additional $15 million in emergency assistance for New York City, although he acknowledged this is a fraction of the monthly SNAP distribution. University Prep in the Bronx, where more than 85% of families rely on SNAP, has raised over $11,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to provide food for students and their families after school hours. Assistant Principal Sally Schwab explained, “It’s really to provide food for after the school day, not only for the students, but for their families…they have siblings that aren’t in school yet, they have siblings that are out of school and so they need this food at home as well.”
State legislators also weighed in. State Senator José M. Serrano called SNAP “a vital resource for nearly three million New Yorkers,” while Senator Roxanne J. Persaud praised the new investments in HPNAP and Nourish NY. Senator Cordell Cleare lamented, “It shocks the conscience that Trump and Congressional Republicans would hold families hostage like this, bulldozing the White House and plowing under the well-being of millions.” Assemblymember Rebecca A. Seawright highlighted the particular vulnerability of older adults, stating, “Older adults are among the most vulnerable to food insecurity, and the continued refusal of the federal government to release emergency SNAP funds is unconscionable.”
Food industry and nonprofit leaders are bracing for a surge in demand. Stephen Grimaldi, Executive Director of New York Common Pantry, warned, “The Government shutdown will have serious adverse effects for SNAP recipients on November 1st, impacting the working poor, elderly, children and the disabled. We’ve got to do better. The federal government must continue to provide SNAP funds to ensure people are fed or millions will flood food pantries and soup kitchens, overwhelming the emergency feeding network.” Leslie Gordon, CEO of Food Bank For NYC, said, “Amid surging food insecurity rates, the Federal shutdown has created so much uncertainty and devastating long lasting impact for so many. We are incredibly grateful for the Governor’s leadership.”
The eligibility rules for SNAP remain strict: in 2025, a family of four’s net income cannot exceed approximately $31,000 per year. For those already struggling to make ends meet, the threat of losing even this modest assistance is frightening. As Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs put it, “Even with state help, how long do you think our food banks can absorb all the demand SNAP currently serves? How long till families have nowhere to turn?”
With the federal shutdown showing no signs of resolution, the coming weeks promise to test the resilience of New York’s social safety net. State officials, educators, and community leaders are scrambling to patch the holes left by a paralyzed Congress. The hope, as voiced by many, is that the federal government will act before the crisis deepens further and millions of Americans are left hungry.
