Standing Together: What the Shutdown Means for You

Congress did not pass legislation to fund the federal government for the 2026 fiscal year, resulting in a government shutdown. As a result:

• Federal employees deemed nonessential have been furloughed, meaning they are placed on temporary unpaid leave.
• Essential federal employees will be required to continue working without pay until the federal government reopens and funding is restored.

This shutdown had wide-reaching implications, especially for communities relying on federal services and support. This was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and ended on the late evening of Nov. 13, 2025.

The shutdown will impact much more than federal employees. Contract workers for the government, such as janitorial staff, security guards, and food servers, will be placed on leave and don’t qualify for back pay.

Texas has 451,559 federal employees and armed forces who could be impacted. The longer this shutdown continues, the more likely it is that thousands will have to go without regular paychecks.

The shutdown may also disrupt federal benefit programs. If it persists, critical supports like SNAP and WIC could face delays or reductions. More than 3.5 million Texans receive SNAP benefits each month, making the potential impact widespread and severe. Nearly half of SNAP participants in Texas are children – about 1.7 million. Children, seniors, and people with disabilities make up the vast majority of SNAP participants. 

Communities across Texas will feel the ripple effects, from our schools to our local economies. 

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received guidance from USDA to issue full SNAP benefits for November. If your normal benefits issuance day is after the 15th of each month, you will receive your full benefits on your usual issuance day this November. If your normal benefits issuance day is before the 15th and you previously received a partial payment, you will get your remaining partial benefits in the coming days.  For more information, check HHSC’s FAQ, yourtexasbenefits.com or call 2-1-1.

November WIC benefit payments will be available in full.

Yes. Food banks are open to anyone affected by the shutdown, including federal employees, contractors, and others facing hardship.

Find your local food bank here!

Yes! You may continue to redeem benefits your EBT card prior to November 1, 2025, at any SNAP authorized retailer.

Yes. You can still apply for SNAP at this time. If approved, you should receive benefits retroactively, beginning from your application date, when Texas HHSC can reissue full SNAP payments.  

If you have scheduled meetings for your SNAP application process, you should still attend. You should continue to follow any deadlines and report application changes to HHSC. 

Texas Health and Human Services is still open and can assist you at this time. 

Texans in rural communities can use our food bank locator tool to find their local food bank’s website and search for local food distributions using the “Find Food Now” button. Many food banks offer mobile distributions that travel to remote areas. Additionally, calling 2-1-1 and selecting Option 1 connects callers to local food assistance programs, including pantries and meal sites.

As paychecks are missed, federal employees, contractors, and members of the armed forces will increasingly turn to food banks for support. If payments for vital programs like SNAP and WIC are delayed, even more Texans—especially those relying on federal benefits—may face increased food insecurity.

The longer the shutdown continues, the greater the demand for food assistance becomes—stretching an already strained emergency food system.

Food banks across Texas are reporting a surge in families seeking help, including many who have never needed food assistance before. This increase comes on top of already elevated demand driven by rising food costs.

While food banks remain committed to serving their communities for as long as needed, resources are limited. A prolonged shutdown threatens to overwhelm capacity, making it harder to meet the growing need.

Shelf-stable, nutritious foods are especially helpful during times of crisis. Though the shutdown is a different type of crisis, items like canned proteins, vegetables and fruits, dried beans, rice, pasta, cereal, peanut butter are helpful. These foods have a long shelf life and are simple to store, distribute, and use, especially for families facing sudden disruptions in SNAP benefits. 

Highly needed items:

• Proteins: Canned chicken, tuna, salmon, and dried or canned beans/lentils
• Grains: Brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, and whole-grain cereals
• Canned Goods: Vegetables, fruits, soups, and stews
• Pantry Staples: Peanut butter, shelf-stable milk, crackers
• Baby Essentials: Infant formula and baby food are in especially high demand

Helpful Tips:

• Avoid perishable or expired foods 
• Consider donating items suitable for dietary restrictions (e.g., low-sodium, gluten-free)

Every donation helps food banks respond quickly to community needs. If you’re unsure what to give, many food banks also provide curated donation lists or accept monetary contributions that allow them to purchase exactly what’s needed.

While food donations are always welcome, monetary donations go further. Food banks can purchase in bulk at discounted rates, allowing them to stretch every dollar. Financial contributions also help cover transportation, storage, and staffing costs—especially as food banks ramp up emergency distributions in response to the SNAP pause.