As the U.S. federal government hurtles into a prolonged shutdown, the consequences are no longer theoretical. With no agreement in sight, an estimated 42 million Americans face the loss of food-aid benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the economy could ultimately suffer losses of up to $14 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The shutdown began October 1 when Congress failed to pass a funding resolution, sparking the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Federal workers, airports and food-banks alike feel the strain, but the most urgent impact may be felt at kitchen tables.
Advocates warn that unless emergency funding is deployed, households reliant on SNAP, many of them children, seniors and disabled Americans could see benefits delayed or cancelled as early as this month.
Mayor associations representing over 1,400 cities wrote to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking for contingency funds to be tapped. According to them, SNAP isn’t just a federal food-aid programme, it’s a “local economic stabiliser,” supporting stores, logistics and families alike.
But the USDA says it does not consider those contingency funds legally eligible to cover routine benefits, intensifying the standoff.
Meanwhile, the CBO estimates that if the shutdown ends this week the damage to GDP could be around $7 billion; but if it lasts six to eight weeks, the cost could rise to $11 billion or even $14 billion by the end of 2026.
As the partisan gridlock continues, one thing is clear: for millions of low-income Americans, the abstract politics of appropriations have very real consequences. Food pantries across the country are bracing for heavier demand, and the economic ripple effects may outlast the shutdown itself.
With no immediate resolution in view, attention is focused now on how long the shutdown will last and how many Americans will go hungry while lawmakers argue over ideology and policy.
