PHOENIX — Over the weekend, more than 900,000 Arizonans utilizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits did not receive them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has argued that despite having a contingency fund of between $5–6 billion, it would be illegal to use those funds during the government shutdown.
The government shutdown began on October 1, when the new fiscal year began without an appropriation bill passed by Congress that would fund the government. As a result, the USDA sent a letter to state agencies that oversee the SNAP program on October 10 stating that there may be insufficient funds available for November and beyond.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins told Boris Sanchez on CNN that she does not have the legal authority to release emergency contingency funds. However, on Tuesday, October 28, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filled a lawsuit against USDA for unlawfully suspending the SNAP program. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 22 other attorneys general across the country in the lawsuit. The judge in that lawsuit issued an order contradicting the USDA’s claim that emergency funds could not be used—stating instead that they must.
“In the lawsuit I filed to protect SNAP for 900,000 Arizonans — including 1 in 4 Arizona kids— the court ruled the Trump administration acted illegally by trying to cut off access to food benefits even though there are emergency funds available,” said Attorney General Mayes in a statement.
A separate lawsuit was filed in Rhode Island on behalf of numerous cities, nonprofits, and churches from across the country. The judge in that case has also compelled the USDA to use the contingency funds.
Approximately 41.7 million Americans received benefits totaling $99.8 billion in 2024—a monthly average of $187.20 per recipient. 12% of Arizona’s population receives SNAP benefits, including 30,000 Arizona veterans, and 40% goes to feeding children.
Governor Katie Hobbs directed $1.8 million in unspent COVID relief funds to be used to provide emergency food assistance. $300,000 of this money was allocated to Food Bucks Now, which offers limited credits to those who use SNAP to be redeemed at certain locations like farmers markets, mobile markets and community grocers. In Mohave County, these locations include Rosebird Farms: Farm Stand and CSA in Kingman, and Lake Havasu Famers Market in Lake Havasu City.
“The State of Arizona does not have the money to backfill the disastrous decisions being made by Washington Republicans, but I am taking every action possible to mitigate the damage done to everyday people in our state,” the Governor said.
The Arizona Food Bank Network (AZFBN) has seen an uptick in donations since the shutdown began. “Food banks are already serving an unprecedented number of more than 770,000 people each month so the added support to serve even more Arizonans during this time is deeply needed and appreciated,” said AZFBN President and CEO April Bradham. “We are grateful to the State and all the donors who can give to their local food banks during this time.”
The grocery delivery service Gopuff is offering $50 in groceries to SNAP customers, and DoorDash has waived delivery and service fees for up to 300,000 grocery orders. DoorDash is waiving delivery and service fees for SNAP customers throughout the month of November when they shop at eligible stores like Sprouts, Smart & Final, Dollar General, and Food City.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99—a food workers’ union representing around 25,000 workers in Arizona—released a statement about the effects of the SNAP funding interruption. “We are concerned by the Department of Agriculture’s refusal to release critical emergency funds to keep Arizona families and children from going hungry. If the USDA fails to issue at least partial payments next month, there will be a catastrophic ripple effect across Arizona’s food web.”
According to the statement, grocery stores like Fry’s and Safeway could be impacted by $124 million throughout the month of November. Grocery outlets also received an email from USDA warning them that offering discounts or services to SNAP-paying customers is a violation.
“The president who promised to lower costs is literally taking food off of working families’ tables,” said Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego in a statement. “Donald Trump has the power to ensure Arizonans continue receiving their SNAP benefits, and he’s choosing not to.”
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego joined 28 cosponsors in support of a bill presented by Republican Josh Hawley that would ensure funding to SNAP for as long as the shutdown continues. Rep. Hawley presented the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 on October 21, which would keep the food program funded until the shutdown ends as well as provide for retroactive payments to those who missed them.
Since its introduction, Hawley has written an op-ed in The New York Times urging Congress to act. “We help those in need,” Hawley wrote in the article. “We provide for the widow and the orphan. Love of neighbor is part of who we are. The Scripture’s injunction to “remember the poor” is a principle Americans have lived by. It’s time Congress does the same.”
Hawley’s bill has 29 cosponsors, including 13 Democrats as well as independent Bernie Sanders. Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) has introduced a similar version in the House, but the House has not returned to discuss or vote on it.
Arizona Representative Paul Gosar criticized Ruben Gallego and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly for prolonging the shutdown. “Arizona Democrat [sic] Senators Gallego and Kelly have voted against opening the government more than a dozen times,” he told KPNX Phoenix in a survey of Arizona lawmakers. “It’s long past time for Senator Gallego and Senator Kelly to grow a spine and vote to reopen the government, put the needs of Americans ahead of politics and stop playing games.”
The USDA website posted a similar message on its website in the lead up to November 1 that blamed Senate Democrats for the crisis. The message read: “Senate Democrats have now voted 13 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry.”
The watchdog group Public Citizen has filed complaints against various federal agencies like USDA arguing that messages like these violate the Hatch Act, which forbids the use of government resources for political purposes. The agency that handles these complaints is the Merit System Protection Board, which has announced that they will not be handling any complaints until the shutdown is over.
“They can choose to ignore these complaints until after the shutdown, if they are so inclined, but one way or another, these Hatch Act complaints are going to get the attention they deserve,” lobbyist Craig Holman said to KJZZ Phoenix on behalf of Public Citizen.
USDA was given until Monday, November 3, to present a plan for how it will be dispensing contingency funds, whether partially or in full. While the lawsuits are still pending, the judges in both cases will also be looking at other funds the SNAP program may legally have access to.
To learn more about food assistance programs in Mohave County, or to list your services at no cost, see the ad in our most recent issue on page 6.
