New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) declared a state of emergency on Thursday as 2.9 million New Yorkers are set to lose crucial SNAP benefits this week because of the government shutdown.

The big picture: Some 42 million people across the U.S. will lose safety net nutrition assistance if lawmakers in Washington don't strike a deal to end the shutdown or find a stopgap measure to extend the benefits. • New York joins Delaware, Rhode Island and Virginia in declaring the impending crisis a state of emergency. State officials have allocated millions to offset the lapse of federal benefits, while acknowledging it is a fraction of what is needed. • Food banks nationwide are bracing for a crush of demand.

Driving the news: Hochul committed $65 million in new state funds for emergency food assis

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