Millions of Americans could wake up on November 1 without access to food stamps, officially known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, as the federal government shutdown drags on with no end in sight.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has resisted calls for smaller, separate spending bills after Schumer and his party voted 13 times to deny all federal funding and keep the government shut

SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.

Starting in November, millions of Americans could lose access to SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps.

The departures of the head of the Agriculture Department’s Food and Nutrition Service and a senior policy adviser spurred worries on Capitol Hill as food aid benefits could halt.

As the United States faces a government shutdown in late October 2025, food banks nationwide are preparing for an unprecedented surge in demand. This potential crisis could leave 42 million Americans without access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,