News

SNAP benefit delays could mean millions go hungry

Note that there are some states moving on providing some form of state-level contingency plan.

This article was written a few days ago, prior to the ruling that required the Trump administration to at least partially fund SNAP for November:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/map-shows-every-states-plan-011500589.html

How States Are Taking Action

As of the time of reporting, so far 10 states have implemented some form of a contingency plan: California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

• California: Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed California Volunteers and the National Guard to assist with preparing and distributing meals and fast-tracked $80 million to food banks.

• Hawaii: State officials have created the Hawaii Relief Program, where Governor Josh Green plans to tap into $110 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal grant program that typically provides benefits for basic living expenses.

• Louisiana: Governor Jeff Landry has issued a state of emergency and signed an emergency order allowing benefits to be filled through November for vulnerable populations, (children, elderly, and those with disabilities).

• Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin has also declared a state of emergency and stated that “the Commonwealth will provide food benefits” until the government shutdown is over.

• Minnesota: Governor Tim Walz has issued $4 million in emergency funding for state food shelves.

• New York: Similarly, Governor Kathy Hochul pledged over $11 million to support local emergency food relief providers and has fast-tracked $30 million of previously allocated anti-hunger funds.

• West Virginia: Governor Patrick Morrisey has also expedited $1 million in emergency funding to support food banks.

• New Hampshire: The state’s Department of Health and Human Services announced a contingency plan that involves partnering with the state’s mobile food pantry program to open up 20 locations twice a week for the next 5 weeks specifically for SNAP recipients.

• Vermont: Officials have pledged to fully fund SNAP throughout November despite the cuts using state funds.

• Utah: Officials have told SNAP recipients that they can still use the remaining SNAP dollars on their card past November 1, and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) will still be available due to emergency funds.

Other states have some contingency plans or the makings of ones in the works, but it’s unclear if they will actually come to fruition come November 1. Those include Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington.

• Massachusetts: Governor Maura Healey announced that the state was working on a contingency plan alongside the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

• Nevada: Governor Joe Lombardo successfully secured $7.3 million in emergency funding to support WIC. However, it remains unclear if anything will be done for SNAP recipients. WIC is also being funded throughout November in Washington, but a larger plan for SNAP remains unclear.

• New Mexico: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is also expediting $8 million previously allocated for food banks, and officials are weighing options for an emergency food plan.

• Colorado: Governor Jared Polis has asked state lawmakers for $10 million to support emergency feeding efforts.

• Ohio: State Representative Latyna Humphrey has urged the governor to take immediate action and proposed a bill to provide interim relief.

• South Carolina: State Representative Hamilton Grant is calling upon the governor to declare a state of emergency.

• Iowa and Missouri: Officials in Iowa have introduced a bill (Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025), in companionship with a bill introduced by officials in Missouri.

• Maryland: Governor Wes Moore alluded to talks about the state potentially funding SNAP, arguing that it’s unclear if they would be reimbursed.

• Maine: Food security advocates are taking a stand and sent a letter to state Senator Susan Collins urging her to release contingency funds.

EDIT: I do think that it's a bit interesting that the policy split here is not really along a Republican/Democratic basis. California and Hawaii are very Democratic and Utah, Lousiana, and West Virginia are very Republican, yet all are moving early on providing state-level food support.