Day 27: The Government Shutdown Threatens to Push 3.5 Million Texans Into Hunger
As the federal government shutdown enters its 27th day—now the second-longest in American history—Texas stands at the precipice of a food security catastrophe. Tomorrow marks a critical deadline: if Congress and the White House cannot end their standoff by midnight tonight, 3.5 million Texans who rely on SNAP benefits will not receive their November food assistance.
Among those at risk are 1.7 million children.
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, provides more than $614 million monthly to Texas’s most vulnerable residents through Lone Star Cards. These benefits, averaging $379 per household, represent the difference between eating and going hungry for families already living on the economic edge.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service notified states two weeks ago that “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.” Texas received specific guidance that benefits would cease if the shutdown extends past October 27.
While SNAP recipients across Texas have their October benefits secure—the program loads cards a month in advance—the pipeline runs dry tomorrow. With Feeding Texas estimating that approximately 125,000 people per day could be impacted by delayed benefit payments as the month progresses, the humanitarian implications are staggering.
If the government shutdown continues past Monday, Oct. 27, funding for the SNAP food assistance program will run out, impacting 3.5 million Texans. @TAFoodBank Government Relations Officer Clarissa Clarke discusses the potential impacts. Eye on Politics: https://t.co/HfNkiMLJrW pic.twitter.com/kVMSAVOMF0
— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) October 26, 2025
Food Banks Brace for Impact
Texas food banks, already stretched thin, are preparing for an unprecedented surge in demand. The crisis arrives with cruel timing: many of these organizations are still reeling from earlier federal funding cuts.
The North Texas Food Bank lost more than $4.2 million in government support last year when the USDA discontinued the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. That program had provided nearly $10 million to help food banks purchase fresh, local produce from area farmers.
Sari Vatske, CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, has already witnessed the shutdown’s ripple effects. Last week, her organization held emergency food distributions for nearly 1,000 families of federal workers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Fort Hood. “We are seeing people stand in line who have never thought that they would,” Vatske said, noting that many Americans are just one paycheck away from needing assistance.
The math is sobering. Around 127,000 Central Texas households that already use the food bank also rely on SNAP benefits—representing approximately $44 million per month in food purchasing power. “That’s an amount the food bank can’t absorb,” Vatske stated plainly. Food banks may need to ration distributions, capping the items clients can receive even as they scramble to source more food than ever before.
In North Texas, food banks have been holding frequent emergency meetings with their 500-plus partner organizations to monitor strain and coordinate response. Clarissa Clarke, government relations officer with the North Texas Food Bank, captured the uncertainty: “We’re trying to just wade through what is true and what is not, and just focusing on helping our neighbors.”
The Political Standoff
The shutdown began October 1 when Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. At its core lies a partisan battle over federal spending levels, health insurance subsidies, and competing visions for the size and scope of government.
Roughly 22 million of the 41.7 million average monthly SNAP participants live in red states that supported Trump in 2024, per USDA FY 2024 data. Top contributors include Texas (3.4 million), Florida (2.8 million), Pennsylvania (1.6 million), Georgia (1.6 million), and Ohio (1.4…
— Grok (@grok) October 27, 2025
The House passed a continuing resolution on September 19 that would extend funding at current levels through November 21. But the measure requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate, where it has failed twelve times. Only three Senate Democrats have crossed the aisle to support the bill—far short of the number needed to overcome the filibuster.
Democrats have drawn a line in the sand over the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. Republicans and the Trump administration argue these were intended as temporary COVID-19 relief measures and accuse Democrats of “weaponizing hunger” and “using health care as a cudgel.”
With complete federal control, Trump is about to add a hunger crisis to the health care crisis he created. Starting Monday, and by the end of November, 3.7 million Texans, who rely on SNAP, will lose assistance.
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) October 24, 2025
Trump can immediately prevent this by using his contingency… pic.twitter.com/6FVBR4uhhj
Getting ahead of it:
— Sara McGee for Texas HD 132 (@SaraForTexLege) October 22, 2025
Greg Abbott could unilaterally tap into the state “rainy day fund” to cover SNAP benefits for Texas families during the shutdown.
Putting it out there.
I talked to a family in Houston who’s buying Thanksgiving dinner now because they can’t afford to buy it all at once.
— Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) October 22, 2025
We're on day 22 of a gov shutdown.
SNAP benefits are about to lapse for 3.5M Texans.
And Trump is tearing down the White House to build a ballroom. https://t.co/BDULVPi3Sp
Meanwhile, President Trump has tied the shutdown to his broader goal of shrinking government, implementing mass layoffs even as the funding impasse continues. The House has not held a vote since September 19, remaining out of session for the fifth consecutive week.
The Human Cost
Behind the statistics are real people facing impossible choices. Lisa Anstine learned about the SNAP disruption when she called 2-1-1 for information. Her adult daughter, diagnosed with stage four breast cancer last spring, receives $267 monthly in food assistance while medical bills mount. “Nobody is going to have an opportunity to even try to get some money together because nobody knows about this,” Anstine said, her voice reflecting both anger and helplessness.
In Laredo, Norma Elizondo, co-owner of Variety Meats—a market serving the community for over 50 years—watches with growing concern. Her district includes 361,000 SNAP recipients out of a total population of 800,000. “It’s a big part of our community here; it’s something that helps a lot of people,” Elizondo explained. “With the new administration and everything that’s going on with the government shutdown, we’re fearful that food stamps, they won’t be receiving them in November.”
Carmen Cartier-Prevatte, a SNAP recipient and part-time employee at Second Mile Mission Center in Missouri City, which serves up to 1,300 families weekly, expressed the anxiety felt by many: “It was already difficult, but now it’s going to be a little more because I’m not in the age to retire. The SNAP benefits were helping a lot.”
What Happens Next
Federal regulations require the administration to spend contingency funds on SNAP during government shutdowns. The USDA has approximately $5 billion in SNAP contingency funding available—about 60% of a month’s benefits according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Yet the administration has not indicated plans to tap these funds, despite having redirected money from other sources to pay military personnel and Coast Guard members.
The Trump administration previously shifted $300 million in tariff revenue to keep the WIC program operational, demonstrating that emergency funding mechanisms exist when political will aligns. But for SNAP, that will has not materialized.
If the shutdown ends after November benefits were scheduled to be distributed, it remains unclear whether those benefits will be issued retroactively or simply skipped—a question that keeps state administrators and recipients alike in agonizing limbo.
A State Under Strain
Texas’s vulnerability in this crisis reflects broader policy choices. The state has consistently maintained some of the lowest investments in education, healthcare, jobs, and social services compared to other states, leaving more Texans dependent on federal programs like SNAP. Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving a significant coverage gap for low-income adults.
Congressman Henry Cuellar captured both the scale of the crisis and the community’s response: “361,000 people are a lot of families. The community has always stood up and come together, not only in Laredo but in different parts of the area. I certainly encourage them to do that.” But he acknowledged the fundamental limitation: “The best way that we can help is by stopping the shutdown and getting back on track.”
“A long government shutdown threatens critical nutrition assistance that helps families put food on the table and ensures kids have school meals. SNAP benefits will continue through October, but if the shutdown persists, future payments could be disrupted.
In South Texas, these aren’t just numbers. They’re our families and neighbors. Over 361,000 residents in #TX28 rely on SNAP, and our rural counties – Duval, Starr, and Zapata – are most at risk if funding runs out. Across Texas, more than 3.4 million people depend on SNAP, and 17% of households face food insecurity.
Every child deserves the food they need to learn and grow, and every family should have confidence that support will be there when it’s needed most. We must come together now, put country over party, and fulfill the fundamental promise that no American goes hungry.” — Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar
The Bottom Line
As midnight approaches on this 27th day of shutdown, Texas faces a preventable humanitarian crisis. Federal funding exists to prevent families from going hungry. The infrastructure to distribute benefits remains intact. What’s missing is the political agreement to turn the machinery back on.
Food banks are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. State officials are updating websites and directing people to 2-1-1 for information. Advocates are urging people to continue applying for benefits and renewing applications, trusting that when the government reopens, the system will catch up.
But for the 3.5 million Texans who rely on SNAP—disproportionately children, elderly residents, people with disabilities, and working families—the political theater in Washington translates into very real hunger. They will face November without knowing when their next benefit payment will arrive, or if it will arrive at all.
POLL: Should states fund SNAP until a funding bill passes? (CBS Austin)
For Texans seeking food assistance, call 2-1-1 or visit Feeding Texas’s food bank finder at feedingtexas.org to locate nearby resources.
Deadly Flash Flooding Ends Austin’s Dry Spell
A weekend of thunderstorms and flash flood advisories in Austin, which broke a 46-day dry streak, has resulted in at least two confirmed deaths from water-related incidents, authorities reported. One person was also rescued, and another remains missing.
Austin Police confirmed two separate body recoveries:
- Lady Bird Lake: Police received a report of a body floating in the lake around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. First responders pronounced the adult victim dead at the scene.
- Shoal Creek: Later that same day, at 5:22 p.m., crews were called to the 4600 block of Unity Circle. They recovered a deceased woman’s body from Shoal Creek, and she was pronounced dead at 5:44 p.m.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. (Austin American-Statesman)
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat from Austin who formerly served as Travis County judge, will announce Monday that she is running for Congress in a newly drawn district designed to give a Republican a 10-point edge.
Eckhardt said she is undaunted by the uphill race and will rely on independent-minded voters who have grown weary of tribal politics to bridge the gap if she is nominated for Congressional District 10 in the March 3 Democratic primary.
She is running to for the seat being vacated by Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, who was first elected in 2004 and said last month he is retiring. Several Republicans, including Elon Musk’s lawyer Chris Gober, have already announced they will run.
Early voting in Travis County continues today and runs through Friday.
Currently, 4.99% of registered voters have cast early ballots either in-person or by mail.
Up-to-date early voting totals through Sunday here.
There are 17 proposed amendments on the November ballot in Texas. Proposition 12 focuses on changes to the State Judicial Court Commission.
Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzales is retiring after three terms, but only because current law prevents him from running for a fourth. (Austin American-Statesman)
Rent prices in Austin have dipped slightly, but rising fees and income-linked rent limits mean many residents are still struggling to afford housing.
Habitat for Humanity is launching a massive five-day build today in East Travis County’s Whisper Valley community. The goal is to start construction on 25 affordable homes. This project is the first phase of a major initiative to honor Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter by eventually adding 500 affordable houses and condos to the area. Thousands of volunteers are expected to participate. (CBS Austin)
Austin has been named the Best College Town in America for 2026, according to a WalletHub study.
A local favorite pizza shop on South Congress has reopened after a small blaze last week did minor damage.
After recent ‘jugging’ incidents in the ATX, police are putting out a warning.
Many in the downtown area, specifically around the Austin Public Library, are still reeling from Saturday’s shooting inside the building.
The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio Office conducted a survey this weekend and concluded that an EF-1 tornado occurred Friday night, touching down near Kendalia. The tornado tracked east along FM 306, and impacted neighborhoods near Canyon Lake.
Preliminary damage survey results concluded the tornado occurred between 11:35 p.m. and 11:58 p.m. The estimated peak wind was 110 mph, the path length was 20.1 miles, and the max width was 300 yards.
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Much cooler weather is coming this week.
Meteorologist Rich Segal breaks down questions related to a rain bubble over Austin, the summer/winter solstice, and cedar season.
Hurricane Melissa is now a Category 5 storm.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: DAY 27
Many federal workers in Texas missed their first full paycheck this weekend as the shutdown nears the one-month mark. (Texas Tribune)
H-E-B announced last week they are donating $6 million to two charitable organizations to help fight hunger across the state. A donation of $5 million will support Texas food banks and $1 million to Meals on Wheels.
The move comes as officials began notifying Texans that benefits from Supplemental Food Assistance and Nutrition Program, or SNAP, will be cut off in November if the government shutdown continues. (Texas Public Radio)
Comparative constitutional scholar Zachary Elkins of the U.T. Austin Government Department discusses the state of Constitutional features like the separation of powers and checks and balances during the norms-challenging Trump presidency.
President Trump pushes a plan to import more beef to help cut your grocery bill. But that’s bringing backlash from Texas ranchers. Adam Schwager goes one-on-one with Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to discuss his alternate proposal, while Dylan McKim reports on the battle to balance helping ranchers with cutting costs for consumers.
The Coast Guard deploys boats to patrol the Rio Grande. That’s one of the big changes brewing on the border. Sandra Sanchez with Border Report joins Josh Hinkle to give insight into the new developments affecting the approach to security along the border.
Funding to help needy Texans could soon dry up. The ongoing government shutdown threatens to cut SNAP benefits. Adam Schwager reports on how food banks are being called upon to help meet the needs.
As the government shutdown drags on, Texans worry about their SNAP benefits. Some school districts are asking residents to approve new property tax rate increases. This is the last week of early voting before the Texas municipal elections on Nov. 4. Some voters in Tarrant County will also have a special election for the Texas Senate on their ballot.
Critics are accusing Texas Senator John Cornyn of capitulating to Democrats’ gun control demands — even though the bill largely did not restrict gun owner’s existing rights. (Teexas Tribune)
Luke Warford for Rolling Stone:
Right now, the data and political dynamics suggests something few could have predicted even a year ago: 2026 offers Democrats a rare near-term opportunity to win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas.
After a period without a voice in Washington, residents of Texas’ 18th Congressional District are finally nearing the end of a special election to fill their vacant seat. Voters are currently casting ballots during the early voting period to elect a representative who will serve the remainder of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner’s term.
The seat has been without a full-term representative since a difficult stretch of loss for the district: Turner passed away in March, just two months into his term, which he secured following the death of longtime U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee in July 2024. (Houston Chronicle)
Body cam footage shows an officer saving a baby from a rollover crash in Fort Worth.
Oh, deer.
A male deer was seen with a hammock on its antlers in Lago Vista, Texas
SPORTS
NFL: The fortunes of Texas’ two NFL teams are going in different directions.
"It's only about us" – DeMeco Ryans on sticking together as a team. pic.twitter.com/LayhffUA3W
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 26, 2025
The Houston Texans amassed a season-high 475 yards and didn’t have to punt until late in the fourth quarter in their dominant 26-15 win at home over the San Francisco 49ers. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Denver, Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott went 19-for-31 in passing, had two picks and was sacked twice in a 44-24 beatdown to the Broncos. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: In the latest AP Top 25 College Football poll, Texas’ three ranked programs occupy vastly different positions, with Texas A&M sitting at No. 3 after their dominant second-half performance against LSU, while Texas Tech holds the No. 13 spot and Texas comes in at No. 20.
The Aggies received one first-place vote and have emerged as a legitimate SEC championship and national title contender, making them the highest-ranked Texas team in the poll. Texas Tech has maintained a solid position in the middle of the rankings, while the Texas Longhorns sit near the bottom of the Top 25 after a tumultuous season that saw them drop out of the rankings entirely following an early-season loss to Florida before working their way back into the poll.
Texas hosts Vanderbilt this weekend.
Texas Football Posts COMEBACK For the Ages | LIVE | 10/27/25
NBA: Victor Wembanyama had 31 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, and the San Antonio Spurs recovered after blowing a 26-point lead to beat the Brooklyn Nets 118-107 on Sunday and remain unbeaten. (Yahoo! Sports)
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks get a win on the road.
Cooper Flagg scored 22 points and had a soaring one-handed dunk during the decisive run, helping the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 139-129 on Sunday night for their first victory with the No. 1 overall pick.
Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Mavericks won the third of five consecutive home games to start the season, a night before they face defending champion Oklahoma City to finish a back-to-back. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Spurs, Mavericks and Rockets are all on the court tonight.
NHL: A much-needed win for the Dallas Stars last night.
Mikko Rantanen scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, and the Dallas Stars rallied to beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Sunday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
In this episode of Texas Country Reporter, we travel to Marfa, Texas, to spend the day with Joey Benton, the founder of SILLA, a design and fabrication studio that’s been shaping the Marfa landscape for nearly 30 years. At SILLA, creativity meets craftsmanship. From handmade furniture and modern architecture to adobe restoration and site-specific design, Joey and his team create work that reflects the rugged beauty and self-reliant spirit of West Texas. We follow Joey through his workshop and across Marfa as he shares how limited resources inspired innovation and how his passion for preserving adobe architecture now extends all the way to the Rio Grande. Out in the desert, he’s taking on one of his most ambitious restoration projects yet: rebuilding a historic adobe home near Presidio, just steps from the Mexican border.
