Across the United States, the ongoing federal government shutdown and the Trump administration’s refusal to use reserve funds have placed 42 million low-income Americans at risk of losing access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1. The potential disruption threatens one of the nation’s most essential safety nets, which provides around $187 a month to about one in eight Americans who rely on it to feed their families.

In response, more than two dozen states, led primarily by Democratic governors and attorneys general, have filed lawsuits against the administration, calling the funding cutoff both unnecessary and unlawful. They are urging a federal judge to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release billions of dollars in emergency federal funds to ensure that SNAP beneficiaries can receive at least partial payments while the shutdown continues. The legal battle remains unresolved, leaving millions in limbo as states scramble to fill the gap on their own.

Many state governments, particularly those led by Democrats, have begun deploying emergency measures and tapping into state budgets to sustain food support systems. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has authorized the release of $80 million to strengthen the state’s food bank network. Connecticut and Minnesota have allocated $3 million and $4 million respectively toward similar efforts, while Illinois has committed $20 million—half from a new emergency reserve fund and half from the Department of Human Services—to seven regional food banks.

In Hawaii, Governor Josh Green is redirecting a $100 million surplus from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to help families with children pay for housing and utilities, thereby freeing up household budgets for food purchases. Roughly one-third of Hawaii’s SNAP recipients are families with children. Meanwhile, in Vermont, a bipartisan plan between Republican Governor Phil Scott and the Democratic-led legislature will provide $6.3 million to fully fund SNAP benefits for two weeks, along with $250,000 in direct support for the Vermont Foodbank.

Even several Republican-led states have joined efforts to maintain food security. North Dakota is allocating $1.5 million in state funds—$915,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank and $600,000 to the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is shifting $10.6 million from a senior services fund to nonprofit organizations that provide meals to older residents, along with $5 million in federal welfare funds designated for food banks.

However, not every state is willing or able to step in. Some governors have voiced concerns about using state budgets to replace missing federal aid amid economic uncertainty and reduced federal spending. Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore, for instance, emphasized that SNAP is a federal responsibility and expressed doubts that the state could afford to assume such a financial burden, particularly without assurances of reimbursement.

To unlock additional funds, several states have declared states of emergency. New York Governor Kathy Hochul became the latest to do so, authorizing $65 million in new food aid that brings the state’s total emergency allocation to $106 million. Yet, according to the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute, that amount would cover only about six days of food for needy households if distributed directly. Similarly, Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has established a new Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program, dedicating $37.5 million per week to sustain residents through the crisis.

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee declared an emergency to redirect $6 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to households with children eligible for SNAP, while another $200,000 will support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. In New Mexico, where 21 percent of the population relies on SNAP—the highest rate in the nation—Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced plans to provide $30 million in state health funds to SNAP recipients, equating to roughly 30 percent of their normal monthly benefit.

Louisiana took a slightly different path. Governor Jeff Landry declared an emergency in late October and later approved $147 million from the state’s health department funds to temporarily sustain food assistance for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. State lawmakers hope that federal reimbursements will restore these funds after the shutdown, though no guarantees have been made.

In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo authorized $38.8 million in state funds to support food banks but declined to declare a fiscal emergency, which would have granted access to a larger reserve fund. Democratic lawmakers criticized the decision, arguing that it limits the state’s ability to meet growing demand. Meanwhile, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders acknowledged that logistical and administrative challenges make establishing a temporary state-level food aid system nearly impossible, though she pledged to explore “every option” available to assist struggling residents.

As the crisis intensifies, several states are deploying National Guard troops and volunteers to help overwhelmed food banks manage the surge in demand. In California, Governor Newsom has once again authorized the National Guard and California Volunteers—the state’s humanitarian relief agency—to assist with meal distribution, echoing their role during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, 30 Guard members helped sort and pack food at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster has called on the State Guard, a volunteer unit separate from the National Guard, to support food distribution centers with logistics and crowd management.

In addition to government interventions, many states are mobilizing private and community resources. South Carolina reactivated the One SC Fund, a statewide charitable response network originally established after Hurricane Joaquin in 2015, to encourage donations to local food banks. Similarly, Colorado launched a new philanthropic campaign urging individuals and businesses to support Feeding Colorado, a coalition of five major food banks. The state also published an interactive map to show where SNAP beneficiaries are concentrated, allowing donors to target their contributions more effectively.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has asked the legislature to approve up to $10 million in additional support for food pantries. In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a public-private partnership in which the state will match up to $1 million in private donations to regional food banks. She also authorized the Iowa National Guard to assist with distribution efforts, as they did during the pandemic.

The nationwide response reflects both the deep reliance millions of Americans have on federal nutrition assistance and the uneven capacity of states to respond in a time of crisis. While some governors are leveraging emergency powers, state budgets, and volunteer networks to avert widespread hunger, others remain constrained by fiscal and political realities. Unless federal action is taken soon, food banks across the country may be forced to absorb unprecedented demand—stretching their resources and leaving millions unsure of how they will put food on the table in the weeks ahead.