2025 Federal Government Shutdown
The Idaho Foodbank is available as a resource for anyone facing financial hardship due to the shutdown of the federal government.
Update 11/13/2025
Congress passed and the president signed legislation to restore funding for the federal government and end the shutdown. The package includes three appropriations bills to fund some departments for the full government fiscal year (through Sept. 30, 2026), including USDA and federal food and nutrition programs like SNAP, WIC and TEFAP.
It also includes a continuing resolution that funds remaining departments and agencies through Jan. 30, 2026. We plan to share a bill analysis on Thursday afternoon. USDA has confirmed that most states will receive SNAP benefits funds within 24 hours of the government reopening. The exact timing of benefits deployment will differ by state based on actions they have taken to date. weeks
Latest updates
- Impact on Need for Food Assistance – (Updated 11/6/2025)
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SNAP Benefits: SNAP benefits have been delayed until the federal government reopens and funding resumes. There have been court rulings related to the U.S. Department of Agriculture using contingency funding to pay SNAP benefits. The timing of when SNAP benefits could be issued and the amount people will receive is unclear. At this point, The Idaho Foodbank is continuing with our plans for responding to an increase in need due to the uncertainty of when SNAP benefits may be delivered.
The Idaho Foodbank has been reaching out and continuing to communicate with our statewide network of over 400 partners – which includes schools, churches, senior centers and other community food pantries – to address increased need. At this point, we have made additional food purchases to distribute statewide; increased deliveries to our food pantry partners and mobile pantry distributions; increased volunteer shifts to be able to move more food, quickly.
132,000 Idahoans receive SNAP benefits. This will increase the demand for food assistance from food pantries, senior centers, etc. During an extended government shutdown, there may also be an increased demand for food assistance from federal employees and their families who experience disrupted paychecks. Even federal employees required to work during the shutdown typically don’t receive paychecks until the government reopens.
Idaho Foodbank Government Program Status
The Idaho Foodbank’s government-sourced food programs remain stable in the near term. We administer two government programs (TEFAP and CSFP senior food boxes) with orders placed several months in advance, so there’s no immediate impact to our inventory. As context, 11% of our food comes from government programs. We’re maintaining close communication with state agencies and will monitor any potential impacts if the shutdown extends for several weeks
- Impact on Need for Food Assistance – (Updated 10/24/2025)
SNAP Benefits: Beginning November 1, SNAP benefits will be delayed until the federal government reopens and funding resumes. 132,000 Idahoans receive SNAP benefits. This will increase the demand for food assistance from food pantries, senior centers, etc. During an extended government shutdown, there may also be an increased demand for food assistance from federal employees and their families who experience disrupted paychecks. Even federal employees required to work during the shutdown typically don’t receive paychecks until the government reopens.
WIC benefits: Expected to continue in Idaho until mid-November.
SNAP benefits: Beginning November 1, SNAP benefits will be delayed until the federal government reopens and funding resumes. Applications can still be submitted, though processing may experience delays.
Idaho Foodbank Government Program Status
The Idaho Foodbank’s government-sourced food programs remain stable in the near term. We administer two government programs (TEFAP and CSFP senior food boxes) with orders placed several months in advance, so there’s no immediate impact to our inventory. As context, 11% of our food comes from government programs. We’re maintaining close communication with state agencies and will monitor any potential impacts if the shutdown extends for several weeks
SNAP, WIC, and School Meal Programs
SNAP benefits: Beginning November 1, SNAP benefits will be delayed until the federal government reopens and funding resumes. Applications can still be submitted, though processing may experience delays.
WIC benefits: Expected to continue in Idaho until mid-November.
School meal programs: Expected to operate normally through November.
- SNAP One Pager – October 2025
Download this one page overview of the SNAP program and proposed changes. Updated in October 2025
- SNAP One Page Overview – June 2025
Download this one page overview of the SNAP program and proposed changes.
- Op-Ed on SNAP – June 13
- Story on Food Insecurity in Idaho City — May 28
- Story on Food Insecurity in Parma – May 23
What is SNAP?
- SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) helps alleviate hunger by providing funds to purchase food for households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (an income of $33,566 per year for a family of three)
- SNAP primarily serves working families, seniors, veterans, and children. Of Idaho households enrolled in SNAP 51% have children, 34% have an elderly adult, and 56% have a person with a disability. *
- SNAP cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, non-food items, or hot prepared foods.
- It is the largest anti-hunger program in America. Currently 135,000 Idahoans use SNAP.
One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Budget Reconciliation
August 1, 2025
The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July has states pay for 75% of the program administration costs. It has states pay for a portion of the cost of SNAP benefits when a state’s SNAP Error Rate is 6% or higher. Idaho’s most recent SNAP error rate was 3.4%.The bill also:
• Expands work or job training requirements and more restrictive SNAP time limits for older adults and parents. Individuals up to age 65 would be subject to work requirements to receive SNAP. SNAP currently includes work requirements and phases out benefits as income rises.
• Limits future updates to the formula used to set SNAP benefits to reflect rising food costs and the cost of eating a nutritious diet. Today, the average benefit is still only about $6 per person per day.
• Eliminates funding for the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program, which provides education about nutrition and healthy eating for SNAP beneficiaries.
- 132,000 Idahoans currently use SNAP
- 51% Have Children
- 34% Have an Elderly Adult
- 56% Have a person with a disability
Share Information and Awareness about the Importance of SNAP
Contact Senator Crapo and Senator Risch and ask them to reject budget reconciliation language that would lead to SNAP funding cuts or threaten the effectiveness of the program.
Why SNAP is important:
- SNAP has been shown to reduce childhood food insecurity and the negative impact on cognitive and academic development as children grow older. Also, it allows families to transition to self-sufficiency and financial stability.
- SNAP not only allows families to purchase much-needed healthy food, but it also makes a positive impact on the local economy. Every dollar in SNAP benefits spent generates an additional $1.50 in local economic activity, helping create revenue for local food retailers and food producers.
- SNAP is an important part of the safety net that pairs with the charitable food provided by food banks. For every 1 meal provided by the nationwide network of food banks, SNAP provides 9 meals.
What Can You Do to Help?
Contact Senator Crapo and Senator Risch and ask them to reject budget reconciliation language that would lead to SNAP funding cuts or threaten the effectiveness of the program.
