NEW YORK — New York residents who receive federal food aid won’t get their November benefits as the ongoing federal shutdown continues, The Department of Agriculture has announced.
The Department of Agriculture posted a notice on its website after the Trump administration said it would not tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP, flowing into November. That program helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA notice says. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued on November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”
Nationally, more than 62 percent of nearly 41.7 million SNAP participants are in families with children; 37 percent are in families with members who are older adults or disabled; and more than 38 percent are in working families, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data by the non-partisan research group that focuses on federal and state policies to reduce poverty and inequality also shows that 2,926,200 of New York State residents receive SNAP benefits. That’s 15 percent of the state population (1 in 7) who depend on benefits to keep food on the table.
According to the data, in New York more than 52 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children, more than 46 percent are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and more than 31 percent are in working families, the Center said.
Also, the Center reported, “many New York households struggle to put food on the table.” The most recent data shows in 2023:
12.3 percent of households were “food insecure,” meaning that their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.14.2 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.18.6 percent of children lived in families below the poverty line.14.3 percent of older adults lived below the poverty line.
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now the second-longest on record. While the Republican administration took steps leading up to the shutdown to ensure SNAP benefits were paid this month, the cutoff would expand the impact of the impasse to a wider swath of Americans — and some of those most in need — unless a political resolution is found in just a few days.
The prospect of families not receiving food aid has deeply concerned states run by both parties.
Officials in Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia pledged to keep food aid flowing to recipients in their states, even if the federal program is stalled next month because of the government shutdown.
Other states’ attempts to use their own funds to support the program have faced technical hurdles, and it’s uncertain if the three new plans can overcome these.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul, on Monday, rallied with New Yorkers impacted by what she d deemed “Washington Republicans’ devastating cuts to health care, food assistance and other critical programs.”
With nearly 3 million New Yorkers at risk of losing the food assistance they receive from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1 due to the GOP’s federal government shutdown, Hochul also announced that she is fast-tracking $30 million in state funds to support more than 16 million meals.
The additional funding follows Hochul’s announcement last week of more than $11 million to support local emergency food relief.
The news marks the first time in U.S. history that a federal administration has stopped food assistance during a government shutdown, Hochul said.
Additionally, Hochul on Monday launched a new website where New Yorkers can share their personal stories about what she called the “devastating effects of Washington Republicans’ cuts to health care, food assistance and other critical programs.”
“I am doing everything in my power to soften the blow of the destruction Republicans in Washington are inflicting on our state,” Hochul said. “While I’ve said repeatedly that no state can backfill these devastating cuts, I am committed to ensuring New Yorkers do not go hungry this holiday season and am taking action to support the families suffering the consequences of Republicans’ cruelty. Republicans in Congress voted to rip health care and vital services from millions of New Yorkers and my administration and the people of New York will continue holding them accountable.”
Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents the 1st Congressional District on Long Island: “Federal employees and programs like SNAP should never be used as ‘leverage,’ as the House’s number two Democrat, Rep. Clark (D-MA), suggested. Five Senate Democrats should simply cross the aisle and support the clean funding bill I voted for a month ago — the same bill even the American Federation of Government Employees, which endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and gives 95 percent of its PAC money to Democrats, agrees is the best path forward.”
Already, New Yorkers expressed fears of empty cupboards this holiday season. “I will have no money for food now,” one man wrote on social media.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.