November began with millions of Americans staring at empty Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, wondering how they would feed themselves and their families. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a national food aid program that serves 42 million people, abruptly stopped providing benefits amidst the longest federal government shutdown in US history. When Congress failed to pass an appropriations bill in October after Democrats and Republicans were left deadlocked over healthcare tax credits and Medicaid cuts, SNAP payments suddenly ceased, turning a routine monthly benefit into a question of survival for millions.
Government officials such as Senator Amy Klobuchar have condemned the Trump administration’s handling of SNAP during the shutdown. She highlighted that the federal government has access to contingency funds that could cover SNAP benefits. However, the administration has chosen to withhold payments, effectively using hunger as leverage in political negotiations. “Hunger isn’t a bargaining chip,” Klobuchar said. Her remarks reflect the Democratic Party’s view that basic needs programs have become entangled in partisan power plays rather than being treated as essential public services.
While the ongoing legal battle has made it difficult for residents in some states to purchase food, several states, including California, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, have started to distribute November SNAP payments. In Massachusetts, more than 1.1 million residents receive SNAP benefits. According to the Commonwealth's official website, full benefits are now instantly available on EBT cards for households that missed payments last week. To ensure residents could obtain food, Governor Maura Healey ordered the state's Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to process SNAP payments in their entirety, overriding the pause. Still, state action can only act as a temporary workaround. Ongoing federal legal disputes and unresolved budget negotiations continue to threaten the stability of food assistance across the country.
Delays are only one aspect of the crisis. SNAP eligibility was drastically altered by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, which was signed into law in July. Certain non-citizens and participants who are subject to stricter work requirements under the ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) guidelines will be immediately impacted by new rules that took effect in Massachusetts on November 1. More stringent requirements are now in place for parents of children aged 14 and up, homeless people, veterans, and those over 65. Over the next year, many low-income residents may not be able to receive aid for which they were previously eligible due to these changes.
There are local ramifications to this dual crisis of tightened eligibility and delayed benefits, with residents already feeling the impact of federal policy in their neighborhoods. SNAP households are struggling to meet their needs, while demand for food from local school programs and nonprofits like the Newton Food Pantry is rising. Aimee Lambert, the Client and Volunteer Engagement Manager at the Newton Food Pantry, said, “The number of clients we’re seeing has more than tripled in the past few weeks.” For students who are witnessing these changes, the decisions made in Washington have a direct impact on their classmates, neighbors, and families. Until Congress ends the shutdown and policymakers prioritize feeding Americans over political leverage, hunger is not a distant threat. It is happening now, across the country, and even in our own communities.
Even so, Lambert added, “I’ve also been inspired by the incredible outpouring of support from our community; people are coming together to make sure no one goes hungry.” Her optimism shows that we can take action by supporting local pantries, donating to food programs statewide, and helping neighbors in need.