As the partial government shutdown extends into day two with no end in sight, more federally funded agencies are turning to contingency plans to keep lights on and doors open for the millions of Americans who rely on their services.

While some programs are guaranteed continued funding, such as Social Security, others face greater uncertainty as Congress and the White House continue to spar over a budget. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) rely on cooperation between states and the federal government, which, during a shutdown, may not have the personnel or funds to keep things moving.

SNAP benefits are allocated a month in advance, meaning October will look no different for people who rely on the program. However, in the face of an extended shutdown, the process could soon get complicated.

Here's what to know about the government shutdown and SNAP.

What is SNAP?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes known as "food stamps," is a U.S. federal program designed to help low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food. It provides monthly benefits via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card that can be used to buy groceries at authorized retailers, including supermarkets and convenience stores.

In 2024, SNAP was used by a monthly average of 41.7 million people, or about 12.3% of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What happens to SNAP during a government shutdown?

The USDA, which oversees SNAP and similar programs through its Food and Nutrition Service division, has a contingency plan to maintain its core services during a government shutdown, at least temporarily.

Funds for October's SNAP benefits were allocated before the month began, meaning payments are already being processed and distributed as usual. If the shutdown lasts longer, USDA could tap into multiyear contingency funds that can be used for administrative expenses and/or to pay participant benefits directly, according to the USDA plan. It is unclear how much money is currently available in that reserve.

These measures are a temporary means of keeping FNS running, however. Existing continuing resolutions, or temporary funding measures, generally only allow the USDA to disburse benefits 30 days after a shutdown begins, and funding can run out. If the shutdown lasts beyond October, it could exhaust the USDA's contingency plan, and the administration could choose not to tap into the multiyear fund, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Food Research & Action Center.

At this point, it is unclear if benefits would be disrupted in November, if the shutdown were to last that long.

During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the USDA paid February benefits early, at the end of January, and Congress passed emergency funding to keep payments going out in March.

USA TODAY has reached out to the USDA for comment.

What challenges do SNAP beneficiaries face in a government shutdown?

Keeping SNAP benefits flowing could become a challenge if the shutdown lasts too long, especially on a state level.

The USDA's staff was cut by about half during the last shutdown. Activities like benefit verification, application processing and website updates are paused, according to the USDA, and other functions are likely to face delays due to barebones staffing.

The timeline on which SNAP benefits are processed varies by state, meaning a disruption on the federal level could sow confusion. Each state must send data about eligible households' SNAP benefits to its EBT vendor each month. This data allows vendors to load benefits onto EBT cards for the upcoming month and, if not filed in time, results in delays or missed payments, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Food Research & Action Center and USDA.

Typically, the USDA coordinates and authorizes these state transmissions, but its ability to do so is limited by furloughs and a lack of funding.

Food retailers also cannot renew their EBT licenses or apply for new ones during a shutdown, meaning those whose licenses expire can no longer accept SNAP benefits.

How are food banks impacted by the government shutdown?

As a consequence of disruptions to supplemental food programs, food banks have historically also been impacted by shutdowns.

With thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay, more may turn to food banks and pantries for necessities, according to Feeding America. People who rely on programs like SNAP and WIC also rely more heavily on food banks during times when the distributions of benefits are disrupted, delayed or uncertain.

Other programs, like the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Senior Food Program, rely on the USDA to provide food to food banks to distribute, and some banks even receive direct funding from the agency.

While these services are expected to continue normal operations for the time being, an extended shutdown could slow or halt the dispersal of resources and assistance, further straining already strapped charitable organizations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How are SNAP benefits, food banks impacted by a government shutdown?

Reporting by Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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