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-Editorial
Forty-two million Americans are set to lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Nov. 1 as the federal government shutdown continues, cutting off a critical lifeline for families across the nation. SNAP, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals, is known in California as CalFresh. More than 5.5 million Californians, one in eight children, depend on CalFresh for their nutritional needs. California and 30 other states have announced they cannot replace the lost federal funding, while 25 states, including California, have filed lawsuits against the federal government over the abrupt halt of benefits.
CalFresh, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, provides food assistance to nearly 3.3 million California households each month. Due to the shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will not fund November benefits, though existing funds on EBT cards can still be used. To combat rising food insecurity, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is partnering with the California National Guard and California Volunteers to strengthen food bank operations and expedite $80 million in CalFood Program funds for purchasing and distributing locally grown food. CDSS is also conducting statewide outreach through counties, email, and social media to notify recipients of the delays. Those seeking assistance can visit cafoodbanks.org/find-food, while residents with the means are encouraged to donate or volunteer at local food banks.
As the federal government shutdown threatens to cut off food assistance for 42 million Americans, a leading public health expert is calling the situation “unprecedented and unconscionable.” Jamie Bussel, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said the abrupt halt of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have devastating consequences for families, seniors, and local economies nationwide.
“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is focused on a future where health is not a privilege for a few, but a right for all,” Bussel said. “We cannot realize health and well-being for all if we have people going hungry in America.” She noted that SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program dating back to the Great Depression, has never been disrupted in this way.
Bussel added that the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which supports 7 million mothers and children with food and nutrition education, is also at risk. “When funding for SNAP and WIC stops, we’re all going to feel it,” she said. “Families will go hungry, food banks will be overwhelmed, and local grocery stores—especially in rural areas—will be hit hard.”
According to Bussel, SNAP benefits account for up to 15% of total grocery sales nationwide, and for every meal a food bank provides, SNAP delivers nine. “Food banks cannot replace what SNAP does,” she said. “These are programs that work—programs that reduce hunger, improve health, and strengthen our economy.”
Bussel emphasized that the current crisis is not about a lack of funding. “This is happening because our policymakers are choosing to prioritize politics over people,” she said. “It’s truly hard to fathom that we have come to this place. This is not who we are as a nation.”
Calling SNAP and WIC “two of the most effective anti-poverty and pro-growth programs in America,” Bussel cited research showing that every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.80 in local economic activity. “WIC leads to healthier births, better infant development, and improved dietary intake for moms and babies,” she said. “The power and impact of these programs cannot be overestimated.”
Quoting Nelson Mandela, Bussel said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” She urged Congress to act immediately to restore funding. “No one in this country should ever go hungry,” she said. “Access to healthy, affordable food should be a fundamental human right.”
Until then, Bussel encouraged Americans to step up locally by supporting food banks, sponsoring farm shares, and helping neighbors in need. “We’re better than this,” she said. “Children, families, and communities across the nation are counting on our policymakers. They need to deliver on their promises and be accountable to the people they serve.”
As the federal government shutdown halts food aid for millions of Americans, Joseph Llobrera, senior director of research for food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), called the situation “unprecedented” and warned it will bring levels of hardship unseen in decades.
“What’s happening right now is truly unprecedented and will result in an increase in hardship that we haven’t seen on this scale in this nation,” Llobrera said. “Over 40 million people stand to lose the food assistance they need to feed their families in November — including 16 million children, 8 million older adults, and 4 million non-elderly adults with disabilities.”
Llobrera said California alone distributes more than $1 billion in SNAP benefits each month, supporting over 5 million residents — roughly one in seven people in the state. The shutdown, he said, will interrupt benefits at a time when families traditionally gather for the holidays.
He emphasized that the administration has the legal authority and responsibility to use contingency funds already set aside by Congress to maintain benefits. “Congress provided multi-year contingency funds for emergencies like funding shortfalls or shutdowns,” he said. “It would be unprecedented to allow a lapse in SNAP benefits. Every prior shutdown under both Republican and Democratic administrations has ensured families received their full benefits.”
The current standoff, Llobrera said, has prompted more than two dozen states to sue the federal government. “The administration’s refusal to fully fund SNAP benefits in November is a choice,” he added. “Families should not go hungry because of that choice.”
Beyond the immediate crisis, Llobrera warned that newly enacted provisions in the Republican-led reconciliation bill passed in July will cut the SNAP program by $187 billion through 2034 — the largest reduction in its history. The cuts, he said, will remove eligibility for millions of participants, including roughly 1 million children.
“The new law slashes federal funding for states’ SNAP programs, forcing unaffordable costs on them and risking deep cuts — or even the end of SNAP in some states,” he said. “For California, a 5% state match would amount to $600 million a year, and a 15% match would be $1.8 billion annually.”
Llobrera also criticized expanded work requirements, which will now apply to parents with older children and adults aged 55 to 64, as well as the elimination of exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth. “These are harsh and ineffective rules that will take food off the tables of people who are already struggling,” he said.
He urged the administration to act swiftly to use contingency reserves and reallocate available funding to ensure families receive November benefits. “This is a completely preventable outcome if the administration acts,” Llobrera said. “SNAP has been one of the most effective tools for fighting hunger in America — it must not be allowed to fail now.”
Eric Valladares, Executive Director of Family Connections, says families in San Mateo County are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety, food insecurity, and instability.
“What’s happening now reminds me how important these roles and organizations are,” Valladares said, thanking community groups for their ongoing work. “We provide free, high-quality early learning, family education, and mental health services to low-income families with children from birth to age five.”
Family Connections operates centers in Daly City, Redwood City, and East Palo Alto, serving nearly 1,000 caregivers and children annually. Valladares said 57 percent of participants identify as Latino, and nearly half speak Spanish as their primary language.
“We’ve seen a rise in fear and toxic stress among caregivers, driven by uncertainty around benefits, housing, and immigration policies,” he said. “When parents are overwhelmed, they can’t respond to their children’s needs in the same way.”
The organization has expanded its early childhood mental health services and bolstered one-on-one case management to help families navigate challenges. Staff also deliver diapers, food, and other essentials to ease financial burdens.
“Families need more than education — they need stability,” Valladares said. “Without secure housing, food, or income, families can’t focus on their children’s development or well-being.”
Despite the challenges, Valladares said there are glimmers of hope: local donors and foundations are stepping up with emergency funding, and San Mateo County has increased multilingual outreach to connect families to resources.