By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 27, 2025
As the federal shutdown stretches into its fourth week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that no Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be issued on November 1 — potentially cutting off aid to more than 42 million Americans who rely on the program to feed their families.
On Monday, the USDA posted a stark message on its website: “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” According to the agency, Senate gridlock over federal spending has left SNAP — once known as food stamps — without the funds to continue into the new month.
The USDA’s statement comes amid partisan tension in Congress. The agency said that Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times against proposed measures to fund SNAP, citing disagreements over other spending priorities. Without a resolution, the department warned, “there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
Millions at Risk
The impact of this funding lapse is enormous. SNAP currently provides monthly food assistance to roughly one in eight Americans — including working parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. The separate Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, serving more than 7 million low-income mothers and babies, is also poised to run out of money.
While EBT cards will still function for now, only unused balances from prior months will remain available after November 1. USDA has clarified that these balances will roll over, but no new November benefits will be issued.
Adding to the strain, the USDA has said it will not reimburse states that use their own funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing during the shutdown. That decision leaves governors and local agencies scrambling to fill the gap.
Food Banks Brace for Surge
Across the nation, food banks are preparing for a potential surge in demand.
“Food banks are already squeezed by federal funding cuts,” said George Matysik, executive director of the Share Food Program in Philadelphia. “If SNAP goes dark, we’ll see lines wrap around the block.”
The New Disabled South, a Georgia-based advocacy group, has begun offering small emergency grants — $100 for individuals and $250 for families — to help SNAP recipients cover basic needs. But even that organization is warning participants that accepting cash could affect other benefits such as Medicaid or Social Security.
A Divided Washington
The USDA said in an internal memo earlier this month that it would not tap its $5 billion contingency fund, explaining that the reserve is reserved for natural disasters, not shutdowns.
That decision — combined with congressional inaction — has deepened frustration across party lines.
“It’s abysmal that we live in such a moment,” said Dom Kelly, founder of New Disabled South. “A government shutdown should not mean that people have to choose between paying rent and feeding their families.”
The shutdown, which began October 1 after lawmakers failed to agree on a 2026 federal budget, is now among the longest in U.S. history, trailing only the 35-day standoff of 2018–2019.
What SNAP Recipients Can Do
SNAP and WIC recipients are urged to contact their state agencies immediately for local assistance and to verify whether their states are releasing temporary emergency benefits.
In some states, officials are exploring emergency appropriations or public-private partnerships with community food banks. Others are directing residents to faith-based and nonprofit food programs.
The USDA emphasized that while its mission is to “increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations,” it cannot operate without congressional funding.
For now, the agency’s message is clear: without a deal, millions of American households could see their food budgets vanish overnight.
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