ALBANY, NY — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Thursday and announced $65 million in emergency aid for food banks as federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding is set to lapse on November 1. The move follows similar declarations in Oregon and Virginia, as the ongoing federal government shutdown threatens food assistance for roughly 42 million Americans.
“Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table,” Hochul said, criticizing the Trump administration for failing to act. New York typically receives nearly $650 million in SNAP funding each month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Other Democratic-led states, including Louisiana, New Mexico, and Vermont, have announced temporary relief programs. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, said his state will use surplus funds to cover up to a month of benefits.
Twenty-one Democratic governors also signed a joint letter urging President Trump to authorize contingency funds to sustain the program. Meanwhile, a coalition of states sued the administration this week, arguing the USDA has the authority to release emergency funds.
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