USDA Announces Suspension of Food Aid Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Tue Oct 28 2025 00:08:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The USDA has issued a warning that federal food assistance payments will not be distributed on November 1 as the government shutdown continues, leaving many families in uncertainty.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that no food assistance benefits will be provided on November 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has now entered its second month. This decision affects millions of Americans who rely on SNAP for their groceries. The USDA stated that contingency funds will not be utilized to maintain benefits during this period, leading to concerns from states and lawmakers. Some states may attempt to continue assistance, though reimbursement for these actions is unclear.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially announced that no food aid will be distributed on November 1, a significant impact of the prolonged government shutdown that has left many families across the nation in uncertainty.

This update comes in the wake of the Trump administration's decision not to use approximately $5 billion in contingency funds to maintain payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program is vital, as it assists about one in eight Americans in purchasing groceries.

According to a USDA memo, the well has run dry, indicating that the department is unable to issue November benefits. The ongoing shutdown, which began on October 1, is now the second-longest in U.S. history and its implications are being felt most acutely by those dependent on federal aid for their nutritional needs.

As Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse, each side is blaming the other. Democrats insist that they will only agree to funding negotiations if Republicans are willing to discuss extending expiring health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Republicans have conditioned negotiations on Democrats agreeing to reopen the government first.

The USDA has also cautioned against utilizing contingency funds for SNAP benefits, asserting these funds are reserved for disaster situations. A memo cites an ongoing hurricane named Melissa as a critical situation necessitating readiness for immediate disaster assistance.

State officials from both parties are deeply concerned about the loss of food aid, with some states promising to continue funding support even if it is currently unclear if they might be legally allowed to do so. GOP states like Arkansas and Oklahoma are already advising recipients to prepare for food assistance disruption by locating local food pantries.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has criticized the current administration for its refusal to start negotiations over the funding and urged them to come to the table to resolve this crisis quickly. He stated that an agreement could potentially be reached within days, allowing the government to reopen and reinstating the food aid program.