With the federal government at a standstill and some red states offering money for food assistance, Governor Greg Abbott faces pressure to authorize the release of emergency state funding. This is a move he has made before to offset the looming federal suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this weekend for 3.5 million low-income Texans.
Some Democratic and Republican state leaders have already freed up money for food banks or to continue their SNAP programs in November, following the ongoing government shutdown that has caused federal funding for the program to run dry. Several governors have declared states of emergency, a step Abbott has taken previously to release funding during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Uvalde shooting, and for border operations.
The Texas Tribune asked Abbott’s office whether he will intervene with emergency funds or join a multi-state lawsuit requesting the federal government to restore SNAP funding in November. Abbott’s office did not comment on those options but stated that Democrats in Congress should do their part to end the shutdown and restore SNAP funding.
“There’s a simple and immediate solution to this problem that could be achieved tomorrow. Senate Democrats should immediately end their government shutdown by approving legislation that already passed the U.S. House that will fully fund the government and ensure Texans don’t go hungry,” Abbott said in a statement.
### Federal SNAP Benefits Halt Imminent
Starting Saturday, the federal government will halt all SNAP assistance to more than 42 million Americans who depend on it monthly, due to the federal shutdown prompted by a partisan divide over extending Affordable Care Act health insurance tax credits. This halt will affect more than 3.4 million low-income Texans—including 1.7 million children—who rely on a monthly average of $400 in federal food aid. Unless replaced, these Texans will go without this critical support.
More than 50 Texas House Democrats have signed a letter urging Abbott to use his power “to save millions of Texas families from going hungry until federal funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is restored.” Eleven Democrats in the Texas Senate later signed a similar letter, warning that “suspending federal benefits would intensify an already critical demand for food assistance across Texas.”
Of the estimated $8 billion in federal food assistance funding scheduled for distribution in November, $614 million is allocated to Texas SNAP recipients. The funds are released on a staggered basis, meaning that each day SNAP goes without funding, benefits would expire for about 128,000 Texans, explained Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, which represents food banks statewide.
### Calls for Emergency Action from State Lawmakers
State Representative Armando Walle (D-Houston) said he and other lawmakers reached out to Abbott’s office last week after learning SNAP funds would halt, asking whether the governor would declare an emergency and move funding from other agencies. “I haven’t gotten a response other than they’re going to look into it,” Walle said. “This is a human capital natural disaster.”
Walle, who recalled that his own family received SNAP assistance as a child, emphasized the critical need to keep SNAP dollars flowing uninterrupted. “Some folks need to have an appreciation for hungry children, the elderly and disabled people,” he said.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which administers SNAP benefits, referred questions about agency contingency funds that could be used to continue SNAP to Abbott’s office.
### How Texas Could Fund SNAP in November
Abbott has previously used emergency funds to address food insecurity, mostly during natural disasters. In 2017, he expanded food benefits for Hurricane Harvey victims through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, providing two months of benefits to eligible Texans in affected regions.
Additionally, Abbott has used emergency funds to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic costs, provide mental health counseling following the Robb Elementary School shooting, and bolster border operations in 2021. In 2022, he redirected hundreds of millions from state agencies to fund border security, including $210 million over two years from HHSC.
Texas currently has over $20 billion in surplus funds, known as the Economic Stabilization Fund or “rainy day fund,” which could be tapped if necessary. However, using this fund would require state lawmakers to reconvene for a legislative session—a measure unpopular among fiscal conservatives.
“There are ample resources available, but generally speaking, those monies are best used for one-time emergencies and tax relief,” explained James Quintero, policy director of the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. He added that SNAP would represent an ongoing obligation amid the federal shutdown.
### Legal and Political Responses in Other States
Some states with smaller surpluses have chosen legal action. A coalition from more than 25 states is suing the USDA over the impending suspension of federal food aid funding. Texas, however, has not joined this lawsuit, which means any favorable court ruling would not directly resolve the issue for Texans.
The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts district court, includes states such as Kentucky, Kansas, California, North Carolina, and Oregon. It requests that the USDA be ordered to provide November benefits by tapping into more than $4 billion in contingency funds.
“Our [temporary restraining order] seeks relief on behalf of the 26 plaintiff jurisdictions. But it is entirely up to the federal government whether they wish to unlock funds for all states whose residents rely on SNAP,” said Matt Platkin, New Jersey’s attorney general.
The plaintiffs argue that cutting off payments would threaten widespread hunger and food insecurity in their states.
Congress could also address the issue by passing a standalone bill to fund SNAP without ending the shutdown. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has introduced such a bill, although Senate Republican leadership has not scheduled a vote.
### Perspectives on Government Spending and Welfare
While other Republican governors have stepped in to fund SNAP programs, Quintero expressed skepticism about government spending as a solution. “What we’ve allowed to develop from the federal level on down is a very robust welfare system that cultivates an environment of dependency,” he said. “By continuing to throw money at this system, we’re enabling poverty to some extent, and it’s really not the best way to generate prosperity and sustainability.”
### Federal Versus State Intervention
SNAP funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has notified states that any state funds used to cover SNAP will not be reimbursed.
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) criticized this stance, saying, “The President, who found $40 billion for Argentina, who is reopening USDA offices to get billions to farmers suffering from his tariff taxes, and who boasts that he can do almost anything, is refusing to tap a rainy-day fund to help seniors, veterans, and families with children. It’s not the well that’s run out, as Republicans claim; it’s their empathy for others that has run dry.”
However, a letter from Texas lawmakers to Abbott points out that states do have the power to take temporary emergency measures using state funds to prevent hunger and stabilize families while Congress resolves the federal impasse.
Some states have already sent emergency funding to local food banks. Feeding Texas has offered Abbott a strategy to increase food distribution by boosting funding for a grant that helps farmers and transportation providers deliver unsellable food to food banks.
“However much food we distribute, we can’t make up for the loss of SNAP benefits, but by increasing funding for the surplus ag grant, we have the ability to get more food out to people during this time of heightened need than we otherwise would,” Cole said. Abbott has acknowledged the request, and she hopes to meet with him soon.
Other states, including Louisiana and Virginia—both with Republican governors—have declared the SNAP suspension an emergency and are using state funds to continue their food assistance programs. “Texas should do the same,” the Texas Democrats’ letter urged.
### Abbott’s Response
When asked by the Tribune about potential emergency actions to restore SNAP benefits or fund local food banks, Abbott reiterated that the solution lies with Democrats in Congress reopening the federal government.
“While Democrats use low-income Texans as bargaining chips, Texas agencies are coordinating with community partners to connect families to existing assistance until the federal government gets back to work,” Abbott stated. He also highlighted existing resources available to Texans needing food assistance and suggested contacting 211Texas, an organization funded in part by members, foundations, and corporate sponsors.
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**Note:** Financial supporters of 211Texas play no role in the Texas Tribune’s journalism. A complete list of supporters is available on their website.
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