TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- If the government shutdown lingers too much longer, there's a chance it could affect people who rely on federal food assistance. States are already warning that residents who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could be put on pause in the next two weeks.

"What we are hearing is that the federal government has told states to put a pause in not to distribute November benefits until they say so," said Holly Bullard with the Florida Policy Institute, or FPI.

FPI is an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing policies that improve economic mobility and quality of life for Floridians. They said the looming shutdown makes the food stamp program vulnerable to funding sources.

Reports say a budget agreement to end the shutdown w

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