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More than 40 million Americans who depend on federal food assistance face an uncertain November as the government shutdown continues with no end in sight, forcing states to make difficult decisions about filling the gap.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be distributed this month, affecting roughly 42 million low-income Americans who rely on the aid—formerly known as food stamps—to feed their families.

The crisis extends beyond SNAP. Nearly 7 million people nationwide receive support through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, according to the National WIC Association, and those benefits are expected to run dry soon in many states.

WIC received a <a href="https://www.ntd.com/tariffs-to-fund-women-and-infants-nutrition-program-during-shutdown-white-house_1095213.html">temporary lifeline</a> earlier this month when the Trump administration allocated $300 million from tariff revenues to sustain the program through October. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/PressSec/status/1975642840416780535">said</a> on social media Oct. 7 that President Donald Trump "and the White House have identified a creative solution to transfer resources from Section 232 tariff revenue to this critical program."

But that funding may not last much longer, leaving states to determine their own course of action.
<h2>States Chart Different Paths</h2>
Some governors have committed state resources to prevent disruptions. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Oct. 8 that his state would use reserve funds to maintain WIC operations, covering the $200,000 daily cost to serve more than 52,000 residents.

"There are many pregnant women, postpartum women, infants, and young children whose only ability to obtain healthy food is through the WIC program, and Connecticut is stepping up to protect this program," Lamont <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2025/10-2025/governor-lamont-authorizes-state-funding-to-support-wic-during-federal-shutdown?language=en_US">said</a>.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo secured approval for $7.3 million in emergency funding that will ensure WIC benefits remain available through Dec. 23, according to a state <a href="https://gov.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/gov2022nvgov/content/Newsroom/PRs/2025/Federal%20Shutdown%20Fact%20Sheet_%20SNAP%20and%20WIC%20Benefits.pdf">fact sheet</a> updated Oct. 27. The funds will be distributed weekly and used only if the USDA does not provide additional support.

"Governor Lombardo has been dedicated to ensuring that the more than 55,000 participants of Nevada's Women, Infants, and Children Program continue to have access to food benefits during the federal government shutdown," according to the fact sheet.

Other states say their WIC programs remain operational for now but offer varying timelines. The California WIC association <a href="https://calwic.org/wic-resources/the-government-is-shut-down-but-california-wic-is-open/">said</a> on Tuesday that the state's program remains fully operational and recipients should continue using benefits until instructed otherwise by local offices.

Health officials in Utah and Minnesota indicated their WIC programs will continue into November. Washington state expects benefits to be available through mid to late November, while Wyoming's program <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WyomingWIC/posts/1258019963036217">said</a> Friday that benefits are anticipated to last at least through November.

The situation appears more precarious elsewhere. Colorado officials said last week the program can continue through at least October 2025 without providing a November update. Wisconsin officials confirmed October benefits are available and that “based on what we know today, November benefits will be available,” according to an update on the state’s Department of Health Services <a href="https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/index.htm">website</a>.

North Carolina officials warned Monday that benefits may not extend beyond "early November." The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services <a href="https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/27/disruption-snap-benefits-north-carolina-federal-government-shutdown-continues">said</a> it "is currently exploring all options to maintain these benefits" if federal funding does not materialize.

Ohio funding is expected to extend into November. Several other states have reported that their WIC programs remain operational, including Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Michigan, Louisiana, Wyoming, New York, and Oklahoma.

Hawaii’s State Department of Health <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDOH/posts/1204967471655270">said</a> in early October that WIC clinics “will remain open and fully operational” with all nutritional education and benefit issuance services proceeding as usual.
<h2>SNAP Benefits Face Steeper Challenge</h2>
The SNAP situation presents a more daunting challenge. Connecticut attempted to soften the blow by providing $3 million in emergency funding to Connecticut Foodshare, though Lamont acknowledged Oct. 27 that the allocation "will not fill the entire gap left by the federal government."

"Connecticut families should not go hungry because of Washington's dysfunction," Lamont said. "We are stepping up because Connecticut takes care of its own."

The federal government has refused to deploy approximately $6 billion in contingency funds to maintain SNAP operations, with the USDA stating Friday that it would not use those reserves and would not reimburse states for covering the costs themselves. Nevada officials <a href="https://gov.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/gov2022nvgov/content/Newsroom/PRs/2025/Federal%20Shutdown%20Fact%20Sheet_%20SNAP%20and%20WIC%20Benefits.pdf">explained</a> that even if the state legislature appropriated temporary SNAP funding, federal regulations prohibit states from directly funding the program.

In North Carolina, where more than 600,000 households comprising 1.4 million residents receive SNAP benefits worth $230 million to $250 million monthly, Gov. Josh Stein urged the USDA to take immediate action.

"Specifically, USDA can deploy federal contingency funds and prevent a disruption of SNAP benefits on November 1," Stein said in an Oct. 27 <a href="https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/27/disruption-snap-benefits-north-carolina-federal-government-shutdown-continues">statement</a>. "The administration's refusal to use these available funds as temperatures cool and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches is a cruel abdication of the responsibility to support families and communities."

Lombardo directed state agencies to implement a Food Insecurity Nevada Plan using $38.8 million in state funds and deploying the Nevada National Guard to assist with food distribution.
<h2>Congressional Efforts Emerge</h2>
A bill introduced in the House on Tuesday would fund WIC during the shutdown. The measure is similar to separate legislation to fund SNAP through the shutdown, though the potential for passage remains unclear as the political stalemate continues.

The federal government shut down Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a budget for the new fiscal year.

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Shutdown Threatens WIC Benefits Within Weeks as SNAP Payments Halt in November

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