Gov. Reynolds mobilizes state support as SNAP benefits set to halt amid federal shutdown

With federal food assistance expected to lapse this weekend due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday announced a state-led plan to bolster Iowa’s food banks and pantries — including volunteer deployments, National Guard readiness and a $1 million state match for private donations.

Reynolds said the state will step in to provide interim support if the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits end as anticipated on Saturday — the first suspension of the food aid program in its history.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is holding twice-weekly virtual meetings with Iowa’s six regional food banks and other food system partners to assess needs as they brace for a surge in demand, according a release from the governor’s office.

Iowa food banks warn they cannot fill the gap if SNAP benefits stop, as they are already stretched thin and serve a different role than government programs.

Local networks say they are already seeing more families seeking help and are ramping up contingency plans to meet what could be a historic surge in need. At the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) Food Reservoir in Hiawatha and the Coralville Community Food Pantry, leaders said demand is rising sharply and warned that Iowa’s charitable food system cannot fill the gap left by SNAP if federal benefits are suspended, emphasizing that for every one meal they provide, SNAP provides nine.

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In response, Reynolds has directed HHS and Volunteer Iowa to begin recruiting and deploying volunteers to assist with food assistance operations statewide, and ordered the Iowa National Guard to prepare for state active duty to assist with food distribution missions — similar to its pandemic-era role delivering supplies to pantries and community food networks.

$1 million donation match

To help sustain food supplies if federal aid halts, Reynolds has instructed HHS to use existing state funds to match all cash donations made to Iowa’s six regional food banks up to $1 million beginning Monday. The match would activate only if SNAP benefits are not federally funded during November.

Iowa’s food banks collectively serve about 1,500 local partner agencies, including pantries in all 99 counties. Details on the matching program will be released in the coming days, according to the governor’s office.

“Government plays an important role in supporting its citizens, but we each have a personal responsibility to care for the people in our communities, especially those in need,” Reynolds said in a statement. “That’s why the state will match up to $1 million in contributions made by Iowans for regional food banks across our state. Together, we can make an even bigger difference for our neighbors who need help during this time.”

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Private sector steps in

Reynolds said Iowa’s private sector is also contributing to emergency food efforts. Iowa’s three Medicaid managed care organizations — Iowa Total Care, Molina Healthcare of Iowa, and Wellpoint Iowa — each committed $100,000 to support the state’s food banks. Hy-Vee also donated $100,000, while Fareway and the Iowa Pork Producers Association teamed up to provide $20,000 worth of ground pork to food banks statewide.

State officials to brief on emergency plans

Reynolds will detail the state’s plan Friday at a press conference at the Iowa State Capitol, joined by Adjutant General Stephen Osborn of the Iowa National Guard and Iowa HHS officials.

The governor also used the occasion to again fault congressional Democrats for prolonging the shutdown, which has halted funding for key federal programs including SNAP.

“It’s important to help Iowans in need at this time, but we can’t ignore that U.S. Senate Democrats are refusing to do their part to care for the Americans they were elected to serve,” Reynolds said. “… It’s time for Congress to do its job, end the shutdown, and move our country forward.”

Federal court weighs emergency SNAP order

Reynolds’ announcement came the same day a federal judge in Boston signaled skepticism of the Trump administration’s position that it could suspend SNAP benefits entirely due to the shutdown, the Associated Press reported.

During a Thursday hearing on a lawsuit filed by 25 Democratic-led states seeking to force the USDA to continue funding the program, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said the government should pursue “an equitable way of reducing benefits,” rather than halting them outright.

“If you don’t have money, you tighten your belt,” she said in court. “You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace.”

Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, said she expected to issue a ruling later Thursday and indicated she may require the administration to tap billions in emergency funds to keep the program running at least temporarily.

The hearing came two days before the USDA’s planned freeze on SNAP payments, which the agency said was necessary because it cannot legally continue disbursements during the shutdown. The $8 billion-a-month program serves about one in eight Americans, including roughly 131,000 Iowa households.

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Due to the government shutdown, the Trump administration announced it would not use a $5 billion contingency fund to cover November's SNAP benefits, despite earlier plans to do so.

The administration argues the fund is reserved for natural disasters and cannot be used for political disputes, while Democrats contend it is the only option to keep SNAP running during a shutdown.

A lawsuit has been filed by the attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, plus three governors, to force the government to use the $5 billion contingency fund to pay for the benefits.

Plaintiffs in the Boston case argued the USDA has access to about $28 billion in contingency and emergency funds that could be used to sustain SNAP at least partially. Federal lawyers countered that doing so would violate the Antideficiency Act, which forbids federal agencies from obligating money without congressional appropriations.

“It’s hard for me to understand that this is not an emergency, when there is no money and a lot of people are needing their SNAP benefits,” Talwani said.

If Talwani issues a nationwide injunction, it could temporarily avert the shutdown of SNAP — though the timeline for reloading recipients’ electronic benefit cards remains uncertain.

Last year, SNAP provided food assistance to about 41 million Americans, nearly two-thirds of them families with children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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