As the federal shutdown approaches the one-month mark, Americans are feeling the impact of lost funding and closed programs. States are rushing to fill gaps in food aid and early childhood services, while military families brace for missed paychecks.

The government shutdown is only becoming harder for Americans to bear. But Republicans and Democrats still have yet to strike a funding deal.

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 suspend benefits, raising concerns over where millions of people who rely on the program will turn to for food.

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced an $18 million public-private partnership for the roughly 112,000 San Francisco residents expected to miss next month’s federal food aid benefits.

Special benefits for low-income mothers are safe for now, despite the ongoing federal shutdown, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced Wednesday. Benefits under the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women,

An average of 41.7 million people, or 12.3 % of the U.S. population, received SNAP benefits each month in Fiscal Year 2024, according to the USDA. October 2025 reports indicate that about 42 million Americans participate in SNAP monthly.

More than 800K New Jerseyans could lose food aid as the federal shutdown halts SNAP benefits, sparking concern among officials & food banks.

Democratic-led states filed suit in federal court, arguing the Trump administration’s halt to SNAP aid during the shutdown harms millions of low-income Americans.