Missourians fear losing SNAP benefits, as federal government shutdown continues

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Millions of Americans could lose access to essential food assistance in November as the federal shutdown drags on. That number includes more than 700,000 Missourians.

The Food and Nutrition Service has directed state agencies to pause the distribution of November 2025 SNAP benefits, which are fully funded by the federal government. However, the Missouri Department of Social Services said it will continue to accept and process new SNAP applications, reported changes, and mid-certifications as normal, according to its website.

Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, said the food stamp program will run out in two weeks.

“So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown,” Rollins said in a CNN reporting.

SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, has a contingency fund of roughly $6 billion, short of the $8 billion needed to cover November benefits. The USDA’s shutdown plan states that multi-year contingency funds are available to help provide benefits during a funding lapse.

According to MDSS, Missouri households receive $1.7 billion in food assistance annually, with an average of 717,668 monthly recipients.

About 35% of Columbia residents live in low-income households. This group includes many working individuals whose earnings are above the poverty line but still not enough to cover basic needs, leaving them reliant on social services for support.

About 14% of Columbia residents live in extreme poverty, meaning their household income is less than half of the federal poverty line, according to a 2021 report from the City of Columbia.

Cheryl Landry, a Columbia resident of 15 years, said the shutdown is already affecting her. Landry is on several federal government assistance programs.

“I’m a senior citizen, I’m a cancer patient and by cutting all these personnel, especially the CDC and the Department of Health, they’re taking away hope from cancer patients,” Landry said.

Landry said on top of the added stress, the cut to SNAP is worrisome to think about.

I’m worried about that,” Landry said. “I literally won’t be able to live if I lose my SNAP benefits. They don’t care they’re billionaires and from the look of them, they’re not missing a meal.”

For now, Landry said she plans to rely on food she has stored in her pantry and freezer, which should last about a month and a half, before turning to her church and family for help.

Another Columbia resident, Jekheisia Cole, said the shutdown has put a strain on her household as well.

“Financially, it’s affecting us. Organizations that can normally help are unable to help, so that affects us. My mother is disabled, so a lot of the places that normally help aren’t given the help,” Cole said. “So, it’s harder on everyone because I look out for her and as a result, the state, or normally the government will look out for her but there’s nobody to do that now so it’ a little harder.”

Feeding Missouri’s Director of Advocacy and Communication Kim Buckman previously told ABC 17 News that families would start to feel disruptions

“The concern is, if it stretches into November, when the USDA can’t obligate new funds, that’s when families could start to feel the disruptions. That’s when food banks will start to see more demand and overflow,” Buckman said.

According to the City of Columbia’s 2025 Fiscal Year Budgeting report, there are 2,131 families in poverty in the city, 3,068 in Boone County, and 131,020 families in the state.

Jennifer Shedosky, a Columbia resident who works in the medical field, said she is already seeing patients worry about their future.

“I see a lot of people being confused about their health care and not having a place to go. Many workers are unable to answer the question of people that have issues that need to be dealt with today,” Shedosky said.

She added that the potential loss of food assistance could be devastating.

“I think that’s horrific. There’s people struggling hard enough as it is. We’ve barely made it out of COVID and now we’ve got all of this hitting us, and I think it’s a lot of broken promises on the part of our government leaving people suffering,” Shedosky said.

According to the Department of Social Services, the USDA will continue to share updates with Missouri as new information emerges.

Meanwhile, residents are simply hoping the shutdown ends soon.

“My hope is that Trump gets off his high horse and treats us like we’re humans instead of you know a number. We’re humans, we’re not numbers,” Cole said.

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