Government Shutdown Halts SNAP Benefits for 690,000 Tennessee and Utah Residents

The ongoing federal government shutdown is causing significant disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), impacting hundreds of thousands of Americans reliant on food aid. In Tennessee, officials confirmed they will not use state funds to replace the halted federal SNAP benefits, despite holding over $2 billion in emergency reserves, leaving about 690,000 residents without assistance if the shutdown persists. Utah faces a similar crisis, with more than 80,000 households losing access to SNAP benefits in November, as the program is entirely federally funded and payments are expected to halt until the government reopens. While Utah's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continues to operate using contingency funds, SNAP recipients like Rose Wakeham express deep concern over the loss of support, fearing severe impacts on their education and nutrition. Social services and food pantries in both states are preparing for unprecedented demand, highlighting the broader struggle faced by low-income families during this prolonged funding gap. Officials urge affected individuals to seek alternative food resources and emphasize the urgency for Congress to resolve the shutdown to restore critical aid.