A hunger cliff is days away. Women, children and food banks will feel it first.

October 30, 2025

A prolonged federal government shutdown threatens to cut off critical nutrition assistance programs, with SNAP (food stamps) set to run out of funding starting in November and WIC (nutrition program for women, infants, and children) facing similar shortfalls after October contingency funds expire. These unprecedented funding lapses would affect nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP and 7 million people served by WIC, including almost half of all U.S. newborns. While food banks are preparing to help bridge the gap, they can only provide roughly one meal for every nine meals funded by SNAP, making them insufficient to meet the potential surge in demand.

Who is affected

Nearly 42 million low-income Americans who receive SNAP benefits, including nearly 16 million children
7 million people served by WIC, including nearly half of all babies born in the United States
Pregnant and postpartum parents who rely on WIC for prenatal care, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support
Single-parent households and children
Veterans, seniors, and families with young children who may turn to food pantries
WIC staff who face potential furloughs
Food banks in Idaho, Maine, South Carolina, North Dakota, and other states experiencing increased demand

What action is being taken

Food banks in several states are bracing for an influx of visitors
South Carolina is tapping a state emergency relief fund to respond to demand
North Dakota's sole food bank has started an emergency fundraising campaign
A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday over plans to cut SNAP access
Lawmakers are discussing stand-alone legislation that could continue to fund food assistance
Food banks and food pantries are stepping in as a bridge during this period

Why it matters

This represents an unprecedented crisis as Congress has never let funding for these vulnerable populations lapse, even during previous shutdowns. SNAP and WIC serve as critical safety nets for the nation's most vulnerable people, and their potential cutoff threatens to create a "hunger cliff" affecting millions of families who depend on these benefits for basic nutrition. The charitable food system is inadequate to fill the gap, as food banks can only provide about one meal for every nine meals funded by SNAP. The situation is particularly critical for WIC, which provides specialized services like breastfeeding support and infant formula that cannot be replicated by food pantries, and for families with infants who depend on formula as their sole source of nutrition.

What's next

SNAP funding is set to run out beginning Saturday, the start of November
WIC contingency funds are set to run out over the next few weeks (after October)
If there is no clarity soon, WIC staff will be furloughed, impacting how families access resources
The lawsuit filed by 25 states against the Trump administration will proceed through the courts
Whether there is enough political will to pass stand-alone legislation within days remains unclear

Read full article from source: The 19th