The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP, or food stamps — is a key benefits program that serves more than 40 million people across the country. Now, the shutdown is threatening to temporarily suspend benefits, raising concerns over where millions of people who rely on the program will turn to for food.

In an unprecedented situation, millions of Americans could lose access to a crucial food assistance program in the coming weeks amid the federal government shutdown.

The emergency funding for the program formerly known as food stamps would help 1.4 million Michigan residents who face losing food assistance in November as the federal government remains shut down.

Local food banks are preparing to serve more people as the federal shutdown threatens to pause food assistance benefits for many Arizona households.

Millions rely on food assistance each month, and with the government shutdown still in place, food stamps will soon run dry.

Colorado Congressional District 3 Rep. Jeff Hurd has co-sponsored a House bill to keep SNAP funded during the government shutdown.

Newer figures from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) show only slight shifts. As of September 2025, Harris County still has by far the largest number of SNAP-eligible individuals, while Fort Bend, Galveston, and Brazoria have seen the steepest growth. Montgomery County is the only major Houston-area county showing a decline.

With the federal shutdown causing SNAP benefits to end Nov. 1, Downtown Columbus' Dollar General store has boarded up, citing fear of crime.