On Saturday, some 42 million low-income Americans, including 16 million children, lost access to benefits through the SNAP program as the government shutdown continues.

The well has run dry” is the message greeting people on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. The federal agency provides millions of Americans with SNAP Benefits, but come November 1, the money won’t come as expected.

If the ongoing government shutdown extends into Saturday — and there is every indication that it will — funding will lapse for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps or SNAP, which helps feed some 42 million lower-income Americans.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York will not let people on food stamps go hungry due to the federal government shutdown.

Although two federal judges ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must replenish SNAP food aid benefits despite the government shutdown, experts warn that even a brief interruption could push nearly three million low-income recipients into poverty.

President Donald Trump says his administration is asking the court to clarify "how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible."

City Council data from 2024 shows about 20% of New York City residents receive SNAP. In the Bronx, more than 40% of people rely on it.

As 1.8 million New York City residents brace for their food assistance to be cut off this Saturday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced a multistate lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday over its decision to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing federal government