Governor Bob Ferguson has directed nearly $2.2 million per week to provide additional support to Washington’s food banks in the wake of the government shutdown. Beginning November1st, funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP will end due to the continued federal government shutdown.
Nearly 1 million Washingtonians rely on the federal SNAP program, with approximately $37 million of federal funds going to households across Washington every week. Governor Ferguson is working with state agencies to mitigate some of the harms caused by the federal government shutdown. Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit this week against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, arguing the suspension of SNAP is unlawful.
Rural Washington will be hit particularly hard when federal SNAP benefits stop. In Yakima County, for example, 28 percent of residents rely on SNAP — the highest percentage of any county statewide.
When federal SNAP funding runs out, more Washingtonians are expected to turn to food banks and pantries. Those community resources are also facing historic demand in the midst of rising food costs. Individuals should expect longer than usual wait times and limited resources.
Governor Ferguson is directing the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to shift nearly $2.2 million per week in funding to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, which provides grants directly to food banks. The first transfer will be made November 3rd, if a federal budget deal isn’t reached and legal efforts to protect federal SNAP are unsuccessful. The transfers will continue weekly until SNAP funding is restored.
