Both Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have weighed in on the SNAP program November cuts in response to an Oct. 10 letter from the  U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Ronald Ward, Acting Associate Administrator of the country's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition Service.

The letter to the State of Maine said: "As stated in our lapse of appropriation correspondence dated October 1, 2025, SNAP has funding available for benefits and operations through the month of October. However, if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation.

"FNS appreciates and understands that States have questions regarding operation of the program, and has begun the process of fact finding and information gathering to be prepared in case a contingency plan must be implemented. With that in mind, we understand that several States would normally begin sending November benefit issuance files to their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendors soon. Considering the operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems, and in the interest of preserving maximum flexibility, we are forced to direct States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT vendors until further notice. This includes ongoing SNAP benefits and daily files.

"We appreciate the partnership with States that administer this critical nutrition assistance program and will continue to keep you apprised with information as we exercise due diligence in our prudent oversight of the program."

Senators Collins and King sent the following news releases Oct. 23:

Senator Collins Calls on USDA to Take All Possible Steps to Protect SNAP Benefits Amid Ongoing Shutdown

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the agency to take all possible actions to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments continue during the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP provides a vital safety net for low-income individuals and families, helping to ensure that vulnerable Americans can afford nutritious food. In Maine, more than 170,000 people — including 50,000 children and 73,000 older adults — receive SNAP benefits.

“The needless and reckless government shutdown directed by Senator Schumer is putting federal nutrition assistance for these individuals at risk,” Senator Collins wrote. “The SNAP program is incredibly important to low-income families in Maine. I urge you to consider all available options in accordance with federal law to ensure that this vital nutrition assistance continues, including the use of contingency funds and looking at the viability of partial payments or any transfer authority you may have.”

“I will continue to work with my colleagues to end this damaging shutdown and reopen the government, but in the interim, I ask that you use every available tool to ensure legally available funds are expended to provide SNAP benefits,” Senator Collins concluded. 

The complete text of the letter can be read here.

Senator Angus King presses USDA to Immediately Release Billions in SNAP Funds to Help Feed Maine Families

Senator Angus King (I-ME) today joined 45 of his colleagues in writing a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November.

Nearly 170,000 Maine people — over 12 percent of the state — receive SNAP benefits. Several counties across the state are approaching or surpassing 20 percent of their population relying on these critical benefits. Nationwide, approximately 42 million Americans rely on this critical program. As it stands, if the current government shutdown extends into November, nutrition assistance would not be issued.  

The senators began, “We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks.’ In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.” 

“First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown,” wrote the senators. 

The senators continued, “In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption.”

This letter is co-signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM),  Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the letter can be found here or below. 

Dear Secretary Rollins,

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.

We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will “run out of money in two weeks.” In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.

Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.