The shutdown brought the scale of the federal food aid program into focus and raised questions about how such a rich country could have so many people on nutrition assistance.

Congress could soon resume food aid benefits that were paused at the start of November. How fast it gets out to beneficiaries could vary by state.

Gov. Ned Lamont says he has authorized the state to pay out the entire monthly cost of the federal food assistance program using state funds.

November 12, 2025 - By Alex Russell, College of Letters and Science - Payments through SNAP, the federal food assistance program, have been delayed during the government shutdown, but program cuts in this summer’s budget bill already put vulnerable families at long-term risk of going hungry.