With the federal government shutdown entering its 30th day and the Trump Administration announcing it will not fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beginning November 1, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders are rushing emergency support to New Jersey’s food banks to help families facing the sudden loss of benefits.

Murphy, in a joint statement with Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, announced the state will accelerate $42.5 million in food and hunger grants to Emergency Food Organizations (EFOs) ahead of the anticipated suspension of federal SNAP payments.

The funds, already allocated in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, will help food banks prepare for a sharp increase in demand as more than 800,000 New Jersey residents face the loss of monthly food assistance.

The move comes amid an escalating legal and political battle between New Jersey and the federal government. Despite roughly $6 billion in federal contingency funds earmarked for emergency food programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said it will not issue November SNAP payments during the ongoing shutdown. New Jersey has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging what officials called an unlawful suspension of benefits.

“The Trump Administration’s decision to abandon the over 800,000 New Jerseyans who rely on critical SNAP benefits during one of the longest federal government shutdowns in our nation’s history is morally reprehensible,” Murphy said. “In New Jersey, we will continue to coordinate across government and with our partners on the ground as we navigate the fallout from the federal government’s failure to act.”

While new federal funds will not be available after November 1, SNAP recipients can still access any remaining balances from previous months. Households that receive New Jersey’s supplemental benefit, which raises monthly SNAP payments to a $95 minimum, will continue to receive that support next month.

Officials also reminded families that children receiving SNAP are automatically eligible for free school meals and that benefits under the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program are expected to continue through November.

The Murphy Administration said it will continue to coordinate with state agencies, local organizations, and federal partners to monitor food security impacts during the shutdown.

Residents seeking assistance can locate nearby pantries and community kitchens by dialing NJ 211 or visiting njsnap.gov for updates.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly benefits to low-income households to help purchase groceries and is only funded through October 31, while WIC is funded through November 10. Nearly 165,000 women and children statewide depend on WIC supplements.

The ongoing federal shutdown, now stretching into its fifth week, has disrupted funding for a range of programs and services, raising concerns among state officials and advocacy groups about the impact on vulnerable residents.