In NC, don't expect state lawmakers to provide much emergency SNAP funding

More than 1.4 million North Carolinians are poised to enter November without federal subsidies they rely on for food — and without any assurances that relief is on the way.

Due to the federal government shutdown, which started Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture directed states to delay paying out November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. More than 1.4 million North Carolinians in about 600,000 households receive roughly $230 million to $250 million each month in SNAP benefits, according to the state.

Those benefits were expected to lapse Saturday until a federal judge on Friday ordered the USDA to use emergency funding so that the program doesn’t run out of money. North Carolina is one of 25 states that sued the USDA after officials said they wouldn’t release the emergency funding nor reimburse states that use their own funding to cover benefits. USDA officials have argued that they can’t tap into those emergency dollars — saying money is reserved only for “true emergencies,” like natural disasters.

A spokesperson for North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said the office was reviewing the judge’s order, and it’s possible that benefits still won’t be restored until next week.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday that he had secured $18 million for use by local food banks across the state. About $7.5 million of the funds are coming from private donors: AmeriHealth Caritas, an insurance company that manages Medicaid plans, and the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation. The Teppers own the Carolina Panthers.

“Shoring up our state’s food banks will serve as a critical, but fleeting, lifeline for families in need, and I hope other North Carolina organizations will also step up in this time of need,” Stein said. “Whether it’s paying our military, ensuring no child goes hungry, or lowering health care costs, leaders in Washington need to come together immediately to find a bipartisan solution that provides long-term stability for millions of Americans.”

Stein continues to explore options to ensure North Carolinians will not go hungry, his office said Friday.

Otherwise, state lawmakers are unlikely to step in. Republican legislative leaders — who are currently at a stalemate over a state spending plan — recently sent lawmakers home and don’t plan to reconvene them until December at the earliest.

WRAL inquired about efforts by House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate Leader Phil to shore-up food funding, asking: Do you believe the state should step in to provide emergency funding? Has your office made any efforts to provide any emergency funding for the program in North Carolina? If so, can you explain those efforts?

They pointed to Democrats in Washington as the obstacles to new SNAP funding — something Democrats deny.

“The quickest way to end all the impacts of the shutdown would be for the recalcitrant Democrats to stop holding the country hostage,” Berger said in a statement, adding: “Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on partisan lawsuits, Jeff Jackson should be calling on his fellow Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, to end the shutdown.”

“It’s shameful that North Carolina families are even in this position,” Hall spokeswoman Demi Dowdy said in a statement, adding: “Democrats in the U.S. Senate should do their job and fund critical nutrition programs instead of playing partisan games with real-world consequences.”

Republicans control the White House and have majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Republicans claim that, due to Senate rules, they can’t pass a funding plan without help from Democrats. Democrats oppose the Republican plan but point out that Republicans could bypass Senate rules if they want — something President Donald Trump has called on them to do.

WRAL also emailed questions to each member of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation. Of those who responded, here’s what they had to say:

Sen. Ted Budd (R): “Senator Budd has voted repeatedly to fund the government and SNAP with a clean, bi-partisan continuing resolution. Per the administration, contingency funds are not legally available to cover SNAP. Regular SNAP payments for FY 2026 must be authorized by Congress in order for contingency funds to be used. Additionally, transfers from other sources would put other anti-hunger programs at risk. The administration is working to navigate available funding resources to extend WIC, but the government will need to reopen to ensure permanent availability. Sen. Budd will continue to support efforts to reopen the government to provide for families in need,” said a spokesperson for Senator Budd.

Rep. Don Davis (D): “SNAP does more than lend a helping hand to those who are truly in need. It also provides our farmers and local grocery stores with a steady stream of customers. It's beneficial for our community, as it helps small businesses thrive and keeps our local economy strong. … I encourage President Trump and Agriculture Secretary [Brooke] Rollins to use every legal means available to ensure that communities across our country, including eastern North Carolina, have enough food to feed their families. We must support those most in need during these difficult times, which is not only the right thing to do to help our neighbors but also the right thing to do as Americans.”

Rep. Valerie Foushee (D): “The federal government must use the over $5 billion in the SNAP contingency fund to ensure the program can continue in November, and the USDA is legally obligated to do so. More important than its legality, failing to fund SNAP is completely immoral. 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, are now at risk of losing the food assistance they depend on due to the actions of this Administration. … In addition to these direct appeals to the administration, I have also cosponsored several key legislative measures to fortify nutrition assistance. … Hunger should never be treated as a partisan issue; this is about keeping people alive. North Carolinians can rest assured that, throughout the duration of this government shutdown and beyond, I will continue doing everything in my power to defend and strengthen SNAP and WIC to ensure that people across our state have the ability to put food on the table, because no one should ever go hungry, period.”

Rep. Richard Hudson (R): “House Republicans passed a clean bill to keep the government open, pay our troops, and protect families. Democrats are using families’ pain as leverage for $1.5 trillion in new spending and handouts for illegal immigrants. Enough is enough. … The House has done its job, and it’s time for Senate Democrats to do theirs. Vote to fund the government, pay our troops, give veterans and seniors their hard-earned benefits and let’s get America back to work so we can focus on what matters: growing the economy and getting the cost of living down, cutting red tape, unleashing American energy, and delivering commonsense solutions for families, farmers and small businesses.”

Rep. Deborah Ross (D): “Donald Trump is shamefully refusing to use his executive powers in the way Congress authorized to ensure SNAP is funded during the shutdown. He and his Republican allies have seen this moment coming for 31 days, and not once have they sat down with Democrats to find a path out of this situation. They control the federal government, and they have the power to end this harmful shutdown and ensure children and families across North Carolina have healthy food to eat. I once again call on President Trump and the Republican congressional leadership to come to the table and negotiate an end to the shutdown that preserves access to healthcare and nutrition assistance. The people of North Carolina deserve real leadership not endless political games.”