Nov 5, 2025 - News
Washington state and Seattle officials support food banks amid SNAP halt
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Washington is one of more than a dozen states directing money toward food banks to blunt the impact of the government shutdown, which has disrupted federal food aid for November.
The big picture: President Trump said on social media yesterday that food benefits will only get paid once the shutdown ends.
- His post appears to defy two federal courts, which ruled last week the White House must pay at least partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits even in a shutdown, Axios' Emily Peck writes.
Zoom in: To help people navigate the losses in benefits, Gov. Bob Ferguson steered about $2.2 million toward food banks in Washington this week, with more money to come if the shutdown continues.
- Seattle city officials, meanwhile, are dedicating up to $8 million for emergency food assistance through the end of this year, including through city-contracted food banks.
Go deeper: Which states are declaring emergencies over SNAP funding