Roughly 41 million Americans who rely on federal food assistance could see their benefits halted beginning November 1 as the government shutdown enters its second month without a resolution.
According to a notice posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website, there will be “no benefits issued Nov. 1” under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if Congress fails to approve funding. The program, which provides food assistance to low-income families and individuals, is funded primarily by the federal government but administered through state agencies.
The announcement follows repeated failed efforts by lawmakers in the U.S. Senate to end the funding impasse. Senators have held 12 votes since October 1 on various measures to reopen the government, all of which have failed to secure enough support for passage.
The ongoing shutdown has become the second-longest since 1981 and has begun to affect a growing number of federal services, including programs that millions depend on for daily necessities.
SNAP benefits are typically distributed to recipients through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, with funds allocated by the federal government and transferred through state systems. Each state manages its own issuance schedule, with some distributing benefits based on alphabetical order of last names, while others use case numbers or staggered release dates.
The potential disruption to SNAP would mark one of the most significant impacts yet from the federal stalemate.
President Lyndon B. Johnson established the first permanent food stamp program in 1964 as part of his Great Society initiative. The program’s origins, however, date back to 1939, when the first temporary food stamp system was launched during the Great Depression to support struggling families.
As the standoff continues, political divisions have deepened over the cause of the shutdown and the scope of federal spending. Democratic lawmakers have blamed Republicans for what they describe as unnecessary gridlock, while Republicans argue that the dispute centers on fiscal responsibility and government priorities.
President Donald Trump has said he will not support a spending package that includes $1.5 trillion in funding that he said would “give illegal aliens health care.” The president reiterated his position during remarks to reporters this week, emphasizing that federal resources must be directed toward citizens and lawful residents rather than noncitizens.
Meanwhile, other federal workers are also feeling the impact of the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that thousands of air traffic controllers across the country are continuing to work without pay to maintain operations at airports and ensure flight safety.
Lawmakers in both chambers remain deadlocked over a compromise to restore government funding. Representative Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Fox News that the path to reopening the government likely depends on a handful of Senate Democrats crossing party lines.
“We need four or five more Senate Democrats to cross over to reopen the federal government,” Burchett said.
The funding lapse has already delayed pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees and disrupted services across multiple agencies. Without an agreement before the start of November, SNAP beneficiaries could experience a lapse in benefits, heightening concerns among state agencies responsible for distributing aid.
The USDA has advised states to prepare for possible delays and to communicate updates directly to SNAP participants as the situation evolves.
Unless Congress passes a new funding measure in the coming days, November 1 will mark the first day that tens of millions of Americans could lose access to the nation’s largest food assistance program.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/10/forty-one-million-americans-could-lose-food-benefits-as-democrats-block-shutdown-deal-watch/
