US states warn the needy that food aid may halt if federal shutdown drags on

Warnings issued on at least two dozen state websites flag the potential for an unprecedented benefit gap for than 41 million people who get aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (Snap), also known as food stamps, and the nearly seven million who receive aid from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC.

- 

Such a gap threatens to further increase rising hunger rates in the United States.

The administration of President Donald Trump in 2025 shrunk federal funding for food banks and is rolling out heightened work requirements for Snap that could push some people off the programme.

“Families are going to be hurt by this should it continue, at a time we know families are struggling to make ends meet,” said Ms Minerva Delgado, director of coalitions and advocacy at the Alliance to End Hunger.

Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania and Texas are among states that said November benefits will not be issued if the shutdown continues through next week.

Reuters spoke with representatives of 11 national and state anti-hunger groups and food banks, who said they were preparing Snap and WIC recipients in their communities for disruptions to their benefits.

If benefits are not delivered, more people would skip meals or make other sacrifices, like falling behind on bills, to keep their families fed, said Mr Chris Bernard, chief executive of Hunger Free Oklahoma.