The government shutdown is still happening. The shutdown has a big effect on programs that help people get what they need to live, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Without SNAP, many people will not have money to eat. 

People who get SNAP are supposed to get their benefits during a government shutdown. But that is not happening. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) runs SNAP, and the law says that the USDA has to pay for SNAP benefits if the USDA has any money to spend. The USDA has emergency funds called contingency funds they can use to pay for SNAP, but they refuse to use it. The USDA is breaking the law by not using contingency funds for SNAP. 25 Governors and State Attorneys General sued the USDA, and a federal judge ruled that the USDA must use SNAP contingency funds. But there is a problem. The USDA will only be using half of the SNAP contingency funds. And the USDA will be slow to give out these funds to SNAP. Too little money given out slowly is bad. That means many people will still go hungry. 

You can pressure Congress to make sure SNAP is fully funded! Call your members of Congress today, and use this script about why SNAP matters to you! This bill is lifesaving for many people in our community. You can use our script and tell your members of Congress why SNAP matters to you:

Script:

Hello! I am a constituent of [Senator/Representative NAME]. I am calling to ask [Senator/Representative NAME] to do everything in their power to fund SNAP during the government shutdown. There are two things I’m asking [Senator/Representative NAME] to do:

1. Tell the USDA to quickly use all of its SNAP contingency funds. There is no reason people shouldn’t get all their SNAP benefits during the shutdown. USDA can act now to stop people from going hungry. To learn why, read the 10/27/25 report from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. 

2. Co-sponsor and vote to pass the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025. This bill will help the 42 million people who use SNAP. Our lives are more important than politics. 

SNAP is very important for people with disabilities, like me and the people in my community. My health, job, and life are worth protecting. SNAP makes our lives possible. Please advocate for SNAP to get the money it needs during the government shutdown. A lawsuit should not be needed to get the USDA to feed hungry people.

Call today and tell Congress we will not let our community or any one else go hungry. Our power comes from all of us, together. For more info, including examples of why SNAP matters, check out the full Action Alert here. If you are worried about being able to get food without SNAP, you can find support at Kelly’s Kitchen Food Security Network, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Feeding America, FreeFormula.Exchange, Flashfood, Freedge, Mini Pantry Movement, and Mutual Aid Hub.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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