New Yorkers Face SNAP Funding Uncertainty Amid Shutdown

🔸 Nearly 3 million New Yorkers may not receive SNAP benefits next month
🔸 Affordable healthcare is at the center of the federal government shutdown
🔸 Governor Hochul calls out Republicans in Washington for withholding SNAP funding

The shutdown of the federal government is affecting more than just federal employees, who have been working without pay. The federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025, due to Congress's inability to pass a budget. One of the reasons lawmakers are at an impasse is due to the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which will help pay for New Yorkers' healthcare.

Democrats are fighting to make sure that healthcare costs do not increase exponentially for 24 million Americans. Republicans control all three branches of government, so they should be working with other lawmakers to pass a budget. Trump once said, “If there is a shutdown, I think it would be a tremendously negative mark on the president of the United States.”

KEEP READING: How Federal Shutdown Disrupts Social Security For New Yorkers

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New York Families May Go Hungry Due To Government Shutdown

Due to the federal government's inability to pass a budget, many families in New York face hunger in November. SNAP benefits are supposed to be doled out to New Yorkers starting November 1 through November 9, 2025. However, if the government shutdown continues, there won't be any funds. Governor Kathy Hochul issued a dire warning about the federal shutdown affecting SNAP benefits. Since SNAP is a federal program, its beneficiaries will suffer if the government remains closed. Gov. Hochul said,

“I’m outraged that Washington Republicans are deliberately withholding federal funding from millions of New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. This is a cruel, senseless and politically motivated punishment inflicted by the Trump Administration that they have the power to avoid. Lives depend on this, and Washington Republicans need to stop playing games. Release this federal funding right now and let states get this money to families to ensure they don’t go hungry!”

Hopefully, the federal government will do the right thing and extend ACA subsidies and reopen the government so federal employees can get paid and New York families don't go hungry.