SNAP Benefits Halted In MD Due To Government Shutdown

Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders will not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits next month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to a letter sent to states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As the shutdown prepares to enter its fourth week on Wednesday, this latest disruption could affect the nearly 42 million Americans, including 668,000 Marylanders, who receive SNAP benefits to help pay for groceries.

"Our people rely on programs like WIC and SNAP to help feed their families, and for over two weeks, the president has been virtually silent on how he intends on helping them," Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement posted on X. "This isn't gridlock. This is not confusion. It's cruelty."

The SNAP program helps low-income people buy produce, meat, dairy and other household food staples. On average, recipients receive a payment of $187 (or roughly $6 per day) on prepaid EBT cards that they can use to purchase items.

While SNAP is a federal program, states are responsible for administering benefits to recipients.

According to the USDA's letter obtained by Time Magazine, SNAP benefits will be paid through October. However, if the government shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay November benefits.

"If we get to November and we are still in a shutdown, or as we go throughout October, we're looking at a potential delay in terms of USDA being able to administer those benefits to state agencies," LaMonika Jones with Maryland Hunger Solutions told CBS Baltimore.

Jones told CBS Baltimore that Marylanders should continue to use their benefits if available.

"WIC is not shutting down, it's not ending. Same thing for SNAP. SNAP is not shutting down," Jones said. "Continue to operate until we have more clarity."

For more information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Marylanders should contact their local department of social services or visit the Maryland Department of Human Services website.

The federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now the second-longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump's first term.

The Trump administration is using the current shutdown to buttress priorities it favors while seeking to dismantle those it doesn't. Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that any funding bill include help for millions of Americans who will lose health insurance coverage or face dramatically higher monthly premiums if Congress does nothing.

The Congressional Budget Office also estimated that roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed each day of the shutdown, including 269,000 who live in Maryland, with the total daily cost of their compensation estimated at roughly $400 million.

The state of Maryland has created an online hub of resources for federal workers affected by the shutdown.

The Maryland Food Bank also has information available for anyone affected by the shutdown, including those who participate in federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. Anyone in need of food should visit the Maryland Food Bank’s Find Food search tool to locate a food pantry in their area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.