On October 1, the federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach a funding deal.
“When the government shuts down, families are left scrambling to feed themselves and their children. Government hotlines go unanswered, and the very systems meant to help people shut down with them. The demand for food then floods local food banks—which are already struggling after funding cuts and higher costs—leaving them unable to keep shelves stocked,” said Patricia Rojas, WhyHunger’s Hotline and Database Manager.
The result is an overwhelming influx of people who need services, at the exact time resources are drying up. Compounding the crisis is the recently passed federal legislation with historic, devastating cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other safety net programs.
Who will be impacted?
The harm of a sustained government shutdown is wide-reaching. Workers facing lost or delayed paychecks will feel the impact immediately, especially as unemployment is already high this year due to government layoffs. Farmers who depend on USDA programs to keep their farms running are left without help.
Parents who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) to feed their families could lose essential support. Seniors who count on commodity food programs may be cut off. Even the government hotlines meant to answer questions go dark during a shutdown, cutting off lifelines for people who need clarity and assistance.
What’s at risk?
Nutrition and benefit programs may face major disruptions:
- Essential nutrition programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meals will continue operating initially, but their funding could run out if the shutdown continues, impacting millions who depend on this critical support. Delays could also interrupt benefits.
- October SNAP benefits will go out, but November is uncertain.
- With 92% of Food and Nutrition Service staff furloughed, advocates warn that error rates may increase, raising food assistance costs for states.
- Emergency providers like food banks and pantries will be inundated with families in crisis, and they are already struggling to meet demand.
- Government hotlines that provide information and referrals can shut down.
Farmers enrolled in USDA programs will lose payments and support services, compounding financial losses they’ve already suffered from recent tariffs and federal funding cuts.
According to the USDA’s 2025 shutdown contingency plan, about 42,000 USDA employees—roughly half the agency’s staff—would be furloughed. Essential work like food safety inspections and animal disease prevention would continue, but non-mandatory data collection, most research, and new farm loans would halt. Farmers would also lose access to market-sensitive commodity data reports, creating uncertainty in food supply chains.
This isn’t just about delayed paychecks—it’s about whether people can feed themselves and their families.
Stay updated on the latest government shutdown impacts via Civil Eats and Food Research & Action Center.
How can you get help?
WhyHunger’s Hotline and Find Food database remain open and available to connect you with nutritious food and local resources during this crisis. Help is available in English, Spanish, and French!
You can:
- Visit WhyHunger.org/FindFood
- Call the WhyHunger Hotline at 1-800-5-HUNGRY
- Text your ZIP Code to 1-800-548-6479
In 2025 alone, the WhyHunger Hotline and Find Food tools have helped over 776,328 million people connect to food and resources in their communities. Whether in times of crisis or everyday struggles, WhyHunger supports seniors, working families, and veterans across the country.
How can you take action?
Learn about ways you can get involved with WhyHunger:
- Help us keep the Find Food database updated as a virtual volunteer.
- Share resources we may not have in our system. Know of an organization, mutual aid group, or community pantry not yet listed? Email us so we can make sure families in need know where to turn.
- Volunteer as a Hunger Hotline Advocate to answer calls and help connect people to food and resources in their community.
- Promote the WhyHunger Hotline by posting and sharing our outreach materials.
- Donate to help us connect more families in need with nutritious food.
Advocate for change:
Beyond helping families weather this immediate crisis, we need long-term solutions. A government shutdown should never mean seniors lose their food, children go hungry, farmers can’t keep farming, or workers miss paychecks they depend on to survive.
You can make a difference: contact your elected officials and demand they protect programs like SNAP, WIC, and farm subsidies, and fully fund food banks and community services. Together, let’s build a future where access to nutritious food is a human right, not a bargaining chip in political gridlock.
