42 Million Americans Will Lose Food Assistance in November Amid Government Shutdown

Was Live Friday, October 31, 2025 | 11am PST

Guest Speakers

• Jamie Bussel, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Joseph Llobrera, Senior Director of Research for Food Assistance Policy, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
• Eric Valladares, Executive Director, Family Connections
• Gina Plata-Nino, Interim Director for SNAP, Food Research & Action Center

Related Coverage

• Trump States He Will Not Fund SNAP Until Shutdown Ends
• YouTube Playlist: 42 Million Americans Will Lose Food Assistance in November Amid Government Shutdown

Event Overview

42 million Americans will lose their access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — on Nov. 1, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. SNAP aid is distributed to low-income people around the country in the form of food stamps. In California, the SNAP program is known as CalFresh. More than 5.5 million people, including one out of 8 children in the state, rely on CalFresh. California, as well as 30 states, have said they cannot backfill the federal government’s cuts. 25 states, including California, are suing the federal government for the abrupt shut-off of SNAP benefits.

Longer term, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress earlier this year, would reduce the SNAP budget by $287 billion over the next decade. New work requirements have also been imposed for determining eligibility.

Speakers this week will discuss the immediate crisis, as well as the longer-term impacts of a reduced SNAP budget. 

Presented by ACoM

Cover Image Credit: Canva Photos