The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food support to over 750,000 Oregonians, faces a major disruption as benefits after October 31 may not be distributed due to the ongoing federal shutdown. Governor Tina Kotek criticized the decision, saying, "This is a cruel and unacceptable situation. President Trump should focus on feeding families by negotiating a deal with Congress, not doing other things like deploying troops in American cities on taxpayers' dime," according to the Governor's Office.
ODHS Acting Director Liesl Wendt emphasized the importance of the program, saying, "We know that hundreds of thousands of children, older adults and hard-working families and individuals depend on SNAP food benefits to get enough food." The department has pledged to keep the public informed and urged recipients to monitor official channels and partner organizations for updates, as reported by the Governor's Office.
The federal shutdown has paused USDA operations, affecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Oregon just before Thanksgiving. The Oregon Department of Human Services advises residents to check EBT balances and use local food resources. The pause may impact families and the state economy, which receives up to $1.80 in local activity for each dollar spent on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Information on food assistance is available on the Oregon Department of Human Services website, the Oregon Food Bank Food Finder, and 211info, as stated by the Governor's Office.
