November SNAP Benefits at Risk During the Government Shutdown
What's Happening
During the government shutdown, November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide food assistance to nearly 42 million Americans, are at risk.
Congress explicitly set aside funds to ensure SNAP would remain available during a government shutdown, but the Trump Administration has refused to follow the law and allow this critical assistance to reach families. Even after two federal judges ordered the administration to issue November SNAP benefits, Trump has only agreed to send half of the normal amount.
It should not take a court order for Donald Trump to follow the law and prevent families, children, and seniors from going hungry. I’m calling on the Trump Administration to immediately release full funding for SNAP so families can put food on the table.
Who This Affects
SNAP provides food assistance to our most vulnerable neighbors:
- 1.9 million Illinoisans
- 16 million children (39 percent of all beneficiaries)
- 8 million seniors aged 60+ (20 percent of all beneficiaries)
- 4 million people with disabilities (10 percent of all beneficiaries)
- 1.2 million veterans (3 percent of all beneficiaries)
- 42 million Americans total
Local Food Assistance Resources
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, these resources may be able to help:
Find Food Illinois: Use the Find Food IL map to find places in your community offering free food or meals.
Illinois Foodbank: Provides an alphabetic listing of all Illinois The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) distribution sites.
Feeding Illinois: Feeding Illinois is the association of Feeding America Food banks that serve Illinois.
Feeding America: The national Feeding America website also has a locator for free food and grocery programs.
FoodPantries.org: This site lists food assistance providers by location.
You can also call 211 or visit https://211illinois.org/ to find food assistance resources near you.