Effects of the pause will be especially widespread in Texas, which has the highest population of food insecure people in the country.

If the federal shutdown continues past Oct. 27, funding for SNAP food assistance will run out in Texas, potentially leaving 3.5 million residents without benefits.

Newer figures from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) show only slight shifts. As of September 2025, Harris County still has by far the largest number of SNAP-eligible individuals, while Fort Bend, Galveston, and Brazoria have seen the steepest growth. Montgomery County is the only major Houston-area county showing a decline.

As the government shutdown reaches its one-month mark, the nation is preparing for the end of SNAP benefits that assist low-income citizens. In Texas, 3.5 million residents rely on food assistance, costing approximately $617 million per month.

Cha Community, a restaurant that serves boba tea alongside Taiwanese and Chinese food, has pulled together enough money to provide 311 free meals in less than a week at its Temple and Waco locations.

Federal judges order the Trump administration to cover November SNAP benefits, but one local food pantry reports an approximate 20% increase in families needing help.

As the nation prepares for SNAP benefits to halt on Saturday, leaders turned their attention to public schools. For millions of students, school is the most reliable source of meals.

About 3.5 million Texans—including 1.7 million children—could lose access to SNAP benefits next month if the shutdown continues.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, is the country’s largest anti-hunger program. Teixeira argued that the ongoing government shutdown is “exposing serious problems” in the program, which is set to expire on Friday.