As the federal government shutdown stretches into its 29th day, a critical deadline looms: Starting November 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, leaving 42 million low-income Americans without essential food aid amid rising grocery prices.
For many, the crisis compounds fears over Medicaid, where administrative backlogs could interrupt healthcare coverage for overlapping recipients, particularly children, older adults, and people with disabilities.
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The budget standoff stems from stalled negotiations in Washington. Republican lawmakers continue to push for stricter spending reforms, while Democrats resist what they call deep cuts to social safety programs.
The Biden administration has warned that emergency reserves are nearly depleted, prompting lawsuits from more than two dozen states arguing that the federal government is illegally withholding SNAP funds.
“There’s no excuse for abandoning families who rely on SNAP as a lifeline,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is co-leading one of the suits.
Health policy experts warn that a SNAP freeze could worsen health outcomes for Medicaid participants, as poor nutrition is closely linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, conditions that drive up medical costs.
According to the USDA, roughly one in eight Americans uses SNAP, receiving about $187 per person per month. Millions depend on both SNAP and Medicaid to cover the basics.
A recent Georgetown University Health Policy Institute analysis found that failing to maintain nutrition aid during the shutdown could raise Medicaid-related expenditures by 10–15% due to malnutrition-related hospitalizations.
States have responded unevenly, depending on their local budgets. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, part of a multistate coalition suing the USDA, argued that billions in contingency reserves exist to bridge the funding gap.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also joined the legal fight, emphasizing that his state “cannot absorb this kind of shortfall.”
Meanwhile, Arizona’s Attorney General has filed a separate suit, condemning the use of “vulnerable residents as leverage in political negotiations.”
In contrast, resource-strapped states such as North Dakota and Kentucky have warned that no November payments will be made without federal action, urging residents to turn to local food pantries.
Georgia’s Department of Human Services said that benefits loaded before November 1 remain usable, while South Carolina officials are “monitoring closely,” with no payouts expected if the stalemate persists.
Online, recipients describe growing panic. One mother wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that she fears for “kids and the elderly,” while another user said the freeze would mean “deprivation for my disabled brother.”
In Pennsylvania, food bank leaders like Colleen Young warn that charities “aren’t equipped to replace federal aid.”
National groups, including Feeding America, predict a 20–30% rise in food insecurity if SNAP payments pause, an outcome that could further inflate Medicaid spending due to nutrition-related illnesses.
“States’ lawsuits are reasonable,” said David Super, a law professor at Georgetown University. “But without federal intervention, the poorest states will face the greatest harm.”
For now, recipients are urged to check state EBT portals or mobile apps for updates. Community organizations are mobilizing emergency food supplies, though many expect stocks to deplete within weeks.
With no resolution in sight, advocates urge families to contact their congressional representatives.
As one parent put it: “The uncertainty hits hardest for those already on the brink. What’s next depends on breaking the deadlock.”
