{"id":23122,"date":"2025-10-20T19:53:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/californians-snap-benefits-could-be-delayed-by-shutdown-newsom-warns\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T19:53:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:53:49","slug":"californians-snap-benefits-could-be-delayed-by-shutdown-newsom-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/californians-snap-benefits-could-be-delayed-by-shutdown-newsom-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Californians’ SNAP benefits could be delayed by shutdown, Newsom warns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to SNAP Benefits and the Shutdown<\/h2>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stark warning Monday that food assistance benefits for millions of low-income Californians could be delayed starting Nov. 1 if the ongoing federal shutdown does not end by Thursday. The benefits, issued under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and formerly called food stamps, include federally funded benefits loaded onto CalFresh cards. They support some 5.5 million Californians.<\/p>\n

The Impact of the Shutdown on SNAP Benefits<\/h2>\n

Newsom blamed the potential SNAP disruption \u2014 and the shutdown more broadly \u2014 on President Trump and slammed the timing of the potential cutoff just as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. \u201cTrump\u2019s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people\u2019s lives and making basic needs like food more expensive \u2014 just as the holidays arrive,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cIt is long past time for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, stand up to Trump, and deliver for the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Response from the White House and Congressional Republicans<\/h2>\n

The White House responded by blaming the shutdown on Democrats, as it has done before. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said the \u201cDemocrats\u2019 decision to shut down the government is hurting Americans across the country,\u201d and that Democrats \u201ccan choose to reopen the government at any point\u201d by voting for a continuing resolution to fund the government as budget negotiations continue, which she said they repeatedly did during the Biden administration. Congressional Republicans also have blamed the shutdown and resulting interruptions to federal programs on Democrats, who are refusing to vote for a Republican-backed funding measure based in large part on Republican decisions to eliminate subsidies for healthcare plans relied on by millions of Americans.<\/p>\n

Alerts from Other States and the USDA<\/h2>\n

Newsom\u2019s warning about SNAP benefits followed similar alerts from other states on both sides of the political aisle, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned state agencies in an Oct. 10 letter that the shutdown may interrupt funding for the benefits. States have to take action to issue November benefits before the month ends, so the shutdown would have to end sooner than Nov. 1 for the benefits to be available in time. Newsom\u2019s office said Californians could see their benefits interrupted or delayed if the shutdown is not ended by Thursday.<\/p>\n

Effects on Vulnerable Populations<\/h2>\n

More than 63% of SNAP recipients in California are children or elderly people, Newsom\u2019s office said. In her own statement, First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom said, \u201cGovernment should be measured by how we protect people\u2019s lives, their health, and their well-being. Parents and caregivers should not be forced to choose between buying groceries or paying bills.\u201d Many Democrats and advocacy organizations that work to protect low-income families and children have argued that restricting SNAP benefits has a disproportionately large effect on some of the most vulnerable people in the country, including poor children.<\/p>\n

Advocacy for Continued Benefits<\/h2>\n

According to the USDA, about 41.7 million Americans were served by SNAP benefits per month in fiscal 2024, at an annual cost of nearly $100 billion. The USDA has some contingency funding it can utilize to continue benefits in the short term, but does not have enough to cover all monthly benefits, advocates said. Andrew Cheyne, managing director of public policy at the advocacy group End Child Poverty California, urged the USDA to utilize its contingency funding and any other funding stream possible to prevent a disruption to SNAP benefits, which he said would be \u201cdisastrous.\u201d Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, said a disruption would be \u201chorrific.\u201d \u201cWe speak out for the needs of kids and families, and kids need food \u2014 basic support to live and function and go to school,\u201d he said. \u201cSo this could be really devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The potential delay of SNAP benefits due to the federal shutdown poses a significant threat to the well-being of millions of low-income Californians, particularly children and the elderly. It is crucial for Congress to find a resolution to the shutdown to ensure the continuity of these essential benefits. The impact of a disruption would be felt across the state, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt of the consequences. Advocates and state officials are urging immediate action to prevent this disaster and ensure that those in need continue to receive the support they require.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n