By Mel Wilson, NASW Senior Policy Advisor
As many are aware, there is a looming food security crisis directly related to the current government shutdown. The Trump administration announced that for the month of November 2025, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will end, placing blame for this action on the government shutdown.
Neither the administration nor the Republican Congressional majority have proposed alternative funding source that would avert a food security crisis impacting as many as 42 million Americans, or one out of eight people in the United States.
Allowing this essential safety-net program to run out of funds is a troubling disregard of the millions of Americans who rely on food assistance to survive. The Administration’s inaction not only exacerbates the crisis, but sends a clear message about its priorities – leaving vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of a political stalemate while basic human needs are ignored.
With full knowledge SNAP is at imminent risk of insolvency in days, the Administration shows no signs of urgency. When reminded that $6 billion contingency reserves is available to be allocated for SNAP coverage, the administration refuses to access those funds, claiming the money is “not legally available to cover regular benefits.”
But this legal interpretation is vigorously disputed. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have previously ruled that the contingency reserve can be used for regular SNAP benefits during emergencies. CBPP adds that the Administration could use its legal transfer authority – the same authority it already used to provide additional funds to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – to supplement the contingency reserves.
Previous administrations have understood that contingency funds could be used for SNAP benefits during a shutdown. In fact, under past shutdowns, during both Republican and Democratic administrations, SNAP benefits have always been provided using available funding sources to prevent a break in benefits.
While it is not clear whether past administrations used the contingency reserve or other funding sources, the guidance documents from past shutdowns or near-shutdowns make it clear that the SNAP contingency reserve is available to cover regular SNAP benefits.
All of which raises serious questions that suggest that for political gain during the government shutdown the Administration is knowingly denying access to $6 billion that could cover the cost of SNAP benefits for November. If this is the case, it is an egregious and callous policy decision that could literally result in the deaths of already medically vulnerable people.
The government shutdown — now at 30 days— is causing financial pain to federal government employees and the users of essential federal government services.
Given this fact, Congress and the White House should agree to immediately establish a process similar to medical triage protocols to protect vulnerable Americans. The triage approach would facilitate circumventing shutdown-related barriers to meet urgent needs.
Finally, this blog is written to underscore the Trump administration’s legal and ethical responsibility to guarantee uninterrupted SNAP benefits for the month of November. In no way should Trump and his Congressional allies be able to use spurious regulatory excuses – driven by political expediency – that jeopardize food security of low-income families during a time of heightened need.
NASW will continue to collaborate with social justice and economic justice coalitions to pressure the Administration and Congress to live up to its obligations to all Americans. And social workers will continue to stand by the millions of men, women and children who will feel the brunt of the hardships imposed on them through no fault of their own.
