New York announces state of emergency, grants $65 mln to food banks
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul declares a state of emergency in New York, unlocking $65 million in aid for food banks as the US government shutdown threatens federal food stamp funding for millions.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference on New York City Mayor Eric Adams, not pictured, Thursday, February 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in New York on Thursday to release $65 million in aid for food banks, as federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to lapse on November 1 due to the ongoing US government shutdown.
The emergency declaration aims to ease the pressure on food banks and pantries across the state, which are already under strain.
New York receives nearly $650 million monthly in federal SNAP funding, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
However, neither Congress nor the Trump administration has taken steps to ensure funding for November, which is estimated to require approximately $8 billion.
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Other states follow suit to support food banks
Several other states have also moved to safeguard access to food as the shutdown continues. Virginia and Oregon declared their own emergency measures to unlock state funds for food assistance.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek pledged $5 million to food banks and declared a 60-day food security emergency, while Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the state would use surplus funds to provide up to one month of SNAP benefits.
Meanwhile, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Vermont have committed to supporting low-income households dependent on food stamps for essential nutrition.
Federal inaction puts 42 million at risk
Approximately 42 million people across the United States rely on SNAP benefits each month. With no federal solution in place, many states have said they lack the resources to cover the benefits on their own.
On Thursday, the Legal Aid Society argued that New York has the capacity to fund SNAP internally and called on the state to act accordingly.
A coalition of 21 Democratic governors sent a joint letter to US President Donald Trump, urging the USDA to use contingency resources to fund November SNAP benefits. The letter emphasized that halting the program would endanger millions of Americans and exacerbate poverty and food insecurity.
“SNAP is more than a food assistance program; it is a lifeline,” the governors wrote.
In addition, over two dozen Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, demanding the release of emergency funds. A hearing was held on Thursday before a federal judge in Boston.
Hochul sharply criticized the federal response, stating, “The Trump administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas, and farmers along the way. Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table.”
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