The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), lifeline for more than 40 million low-income households, will dry up starting November due to the ongoing government shutdown, prompting bipartisan outcry and state-level scramble to fill the void.

SNAP, which provides debit cards for groceries to one in eight Americans, relies on multi-year contingency funds that the Trump administration has opted not to tap, citing needs for potential disasters. A USDA notice blamed Senate Democrats for the impasse, stating "the well has run dry." The average family of four receives $715 monthly—about $6 daily per person—making the halt a potential crisis for food pantries already strained by rising demand.

Democrats fired back sharply. Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Angie Craig called it "the most cruel and unlawful offence the Trump administration has perpetrated yet," slamming decisions to aid Argentina and build a White House ballroom while families go hungry. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, House Democrats urged releasing SNAP's reserve, which the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates covers 60% of one month's benefits.

Rollins countered that reserves are for "true emergencies" like natural disasters, not shutdowns.States are stepping up unevenly. Massachusetts, where one million rely on SNAP, warned it lacks funds to bridge the gap; California deploys its National Guard for distributions.

Others like New York pledge reimbursements from future federal allotments, but USDA clarified no such payback exists. The shutdown, now in its 26th day and the second-longest on record, stems from stalled spending bills over border security and debt ceiling hikes.

As November 1 nears, food banks brace for surges—CBPP projects 10 million more at risk, exacerbating a 20% rise in usage since 2023. Advocacy groups like Feeding America called for immediate congressional action, while Trump allies defend the stance as fiscal discipline. With midterms looming, the cutoff tests both parties' resolve on the $120 billion program.