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A state of emergency remains in effect across New York as millions brace for the loss of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Starting tomorrow (November 1), SNAP recipients will not receive their benefits, prompting New York to take action. Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional $65 million in state funding for emergency food assistance to help provide approximately 40 million meals to New Yorkers in need.
The federal government shutdown has led to a funding shortfall, leaving millions without the critical assistance they rely on. Governor Hochul criticized the Trump administration for refusing to release federal contingency funds, which would address the crisis. She stated, "Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table."
In response, New York has launched a new website to connect residents with food assistance resources and is deploying Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps members to support local food banks. Governor Hochul emphasized the state's commitment to ensuring no New Yorker goes hungry during this crisis.
The situation has sparked legal action, with New York and 24 other states suing the Trump administration to release emergency SNAP funds. A federal judge in Boston is considering a motion to force the administration to continue funding SNAP during the shutdown. Meanwhile, states across the nation, including New York, are stepping in to fill the gap left by the federal funding shortfall.
As the shutdown continues, the future of SNAP benefits remains uncertain, with millions of Americans affected. Efforts to resolve the issue include a proposed bill aimed at funding the SNAP program, which has become a focal point of the shutdown. Newsweek reports that the program, serving one in eight Americans, is a cornerstone of the nation's social safety net.