The U.S. government has shut down 21 times since 1976. We are living history.

By Yunielis Vargas

10/31/25

As we approach 30 days in the government shutdown, Congress is falling apart, and U.S. Citizens are starting to feel withdrawal from a working government. Some things that are happening because of the government shutdown recently are food stamps (SNAP) being cancelled for November, federal employees being left unpaid for 30 days, and travel issues. 

Food Stamps

Recently, Americans were notified they could lose access to SNAP food assistance in the near future due to the government shutdown. The US Department of Agriculture has said it currently doesn’t have the funds to pay $8 billion in food stamps this month. According to the USDA site, over 42 million Americans received food stamps in May, making that 1 in 8 Americans. Now, if you think all people who get food stamps are robbing the government and your tax money, you're wrong. According to the USDA, 39% of food stamp recipients were children, 20% were elderly, and 10% were non-elderly with a disability. 

On average, households receive an average of $350 in food stamps, giving them a helping hand with the necessary things they need in life. The federal government is pushing families to food pantries and other community food assistance programs to supply them with food for November, especially Thanksgiving. 

State Relief

As states won't be able to supply as much as the food stamps program, they are constantly trying to find solutions around the government shutdown to make sure all their citizens are accommodated to this change in the best way they can. As the federal government cannot supply citizens with food assistance in any way, some states like Minnesota are stepping into state food pantries. In Minnesota, the governor, Tim Walz, is pitching in $4 million. South Carolina is also activating a statewide charity fund, which is usually used for hurricane relief. In Virginia, Glenn Youngkin said his state is building its own food assistance program for residents. The program will be funded through the state’s surplus and will cost them $37.5 million a week. 

Food Banks in the Cleveland area and Ohio

• Cleveland: Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Community Resource Center, various hunger centers run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and locations from organizations like The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities.

• Ohio: To see food banks in Ohio, please go to the Ohio Association of Food Banks website linked below.

  https://ohiofoodbanks.org/foodbanks/ 

Sources:

• Here’s why the shutdown has put food stamp benefits at risk

• Families worried about affording food while states stress about replacing SNAP funding

• 2025 Federal Government Shutdown