The Shutdown’s Casualties: America’s Hungry Families

Forty-two million Americans are wondering what’s for dinner — not because they don’t know what to cook, but because the government shut down and their SNAP benefits did not come this month.

November SNAP benefits have already been delayed or canceled, leaving millions uncertain about how they’ll feed their families—especially as the holidays approach. Some states have warned that payments cannot be issued until federal funding is restored, and food banks are preparing for a surge in demand as families scramble to cover basic needs.

SNAP is federally funded, but states handle the logistics of delivering benefits through EBT cards, which families use to buy groceries. This system is usually reliable, but the shutdown is putting it at risk. Millions of Americans are now facing the real possibility of missing meals because of political decisions entirely beyond their control.

According to PBS NewsHour, 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, and at least half of all states have warned they may not be able to continue food assistance if the shutdown drags on. The average benefit—only about $6.25 per person per day—doesn’t stretch far, but for many, it’s the difference between dinner and going hungry. With November benefits delayed or canceled in several states, local food banks are already bracing for shortages. This isn’t just about food—it’s about stability, dignity, and survival.

There are countless misconceptions about SNAP, often driven by stigma and politics. One of the most common is that recipients are lazy or dependent on government aid. In reality, about 40 percent of SNAP recipients are children, and nearly half of adults on SNAP are employed in low-wage jobs. These are families trying to make ends meet, not people avoiding work.

Another misconception is that SNAP is misused or spent on luxury items. SNAP can only be used for food and non-alcoholic beverages—no alcohol, cigarettes, or restaurant meals except in rare cases. Most purchases are staples like bread, milk, vegetables, and proteins. Fraud within the program is extremely low, hovering around one percent according to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

Some argue that SNAP creates dependency, but most people rely on it temporarily—during job loss, illness, or other hardships. It serves as a bridge, not a permanent solution. Studies show that SNAP participation actually helps people regain stability, return to work, and support their families in the long run.

Then there’s the argument that SNAP is a handout. But it’s not charity; it’s a safety net. It exists because no child should have to go hungry, no senior should have to choose between groceries and medicine, and no family should have to skip meals to pay rent. Cuts to SNAP aren’t just budget decisions; they’re empty refrigerators, skipped dinners, and lost childhoods. No one should have to starve in one of the wealthiest countries on Earth.

As someone who grew up in a household that relied on food stamps for my entire childhood and adolescence, I can say truthfully that SNAP gave my siblings and me much more than birthday cakes or after-school snacks. Every month, those benefits put meat and potatoes on our table, fruits and vegetables in our kitchen, and rice and beans on our plates—the basics we barely got by on.

Sometimes I think about how easily people judge families like mine. Did I not deserve a warm meal just because I was born into a low-income household? My siblings and I didn’t ask for that reality—we just lived it. Instead of thinking about SNAP as a burden on tax dollars, think about the children who lose pieces of their childhoods to hunger, while the president throws Great Gatsby-style parties and celebrates opulence. And let them eat.

The human impact of delayed or canceled SNAP benefits cannot be overstated. Families will have to stretch what little they already have, skipping meals or cutting back on essentials to make food last. Children may go to school hungry. Adults will go without feeding their kids. Food banks will struggle to keep up. These consequences are preventable, yet millions are at risk because of political gridlock.

SNAP is more than a government program—it’s a promise that no one should go hungry in one of the wealthiest countries on Earth. It’s time to think beyond politics, beyond party lines, and beyond tax dollars. The real question is simple: do we value children, families, and communities enough to ensure they have access to the most basic human need—food? SNAP exists to answer that question. And right now, millions of Americans are depending on us to answer yes.

Works Cited

AP News. “Judges Order Trump Administration to Use Emergency Reserves for SNAP Payments during the Shutdown.” AP News, 3 Nov. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/4af8b0dec6cd31cddd023cc99c131b73.

PBS NewsHour. “Millions Face Losing SNAP Benefits as Shutdown Continues with No End in Sight.” PBS NewsHour, 28 Oct. 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/millions-face-losing-snap-benefits-as-shutdown-continues-with-no-end-in-sight.

Food Research & Action Center. “How Will a Government Shutdown Affect SNAP Benefits?” FRAC, 27 Sept. 2025, https://frac.org/blog/how-will-government-shutdown-affect-snap-benefits.

Business Insider. “SNAP Benefits May Be Smaller or Delayed in November.” Business Insider, 22 Oct. 2025, https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-benefits-smaller-delayed-in-november-texas-pennsylvania-2025-10.

Reuters. “US Food Banks Brace for Surge as Shutdown Threatens Benefits.” Reuters, 25 Oct. 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-food-banks-brace-surge-shutdown-threatens-benefits-2025-10-25.

USAFacts. “How Will the Government Shutdown Impact SNAP?” USAFacts, 31 Oct. 2025, https://usafacts.org/articles/does-the-government-shutdown-affect-snap-benefits.

The Texas Tribune. “Trump Administration Will Partially Fund SNAP in November, but It’s Unclear When Texans Will Receive Benefits.” The Texas Tribune, 31 Oct. 2025, https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/31/snap-benefits-texas-court-rulings. 

Politico. “Trump Administration Says It Will Not Tap Emergency Funds to Pay Food Aid.” Politico, 24 Oct. 2025, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/snap-food-aid-shutdown-usda-00622690.