US EditionTexas House Dems Urge Gov. Greg Abbott to Fund State’s SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown
Texas Democrats urge emergency use of state funds to prevent hunger for 3.5 million low-income Texans amid federal SNAP benefit halt, risking food insecurity.
- On Thursday, Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott signed by 57 members urging him to declare a state of emergency and use state funds to sustain SNAP for 3.5 million low-income Texans.
- On Saturday, the federal government will halt SNAP assistance, which affects more than 42 million Americans and would leave more than 3.4 million low-income Texans, including 1.7 million children, without aid unless replaced; USDA warned this month states won't be reimbursed if they use state funds.
- Governor Greg Abbott has precedent using emergency funds during crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Robb Elementary shooting, and Hurricane Harvey, but tapping the Economic Stabilization Fund would require lawmakers to reconvene in Austin, Texas.
- Abbott's office declined to commit to emergency funding or joining the USDA lawsuit and said Democrats in Congress should end the shutdown to restore SNAP, while the Texas Health and Human Services Commission referred contingency funding questions to Abbott's office.
- Texas has not joined the multi-state lawsuit seeking over $4 billion in contingency funds for nearly 25 million people, so court relief would not help Texans without state action; Congress could pass a standalone SNAP funding bill.
15 Articles
15 Articles
With the federal government paralysed and some red states offering money for food aid, Governor Greg Abbott faces pressure to authorize the release of state emergency funds, a measure he has done before, to compensate for the imminent federal suspension of SNAP benefits this weekend for 3.5 million low-income Texans. Some state leaders, Democrats and Republicans, have released money for food banks or to continue their Supplementary Nutrition Ass…
Texas Democrats call on Abbott to act on SNAP funding during shutdown
Editor's Note: The video above is from KXAN's newscast on Oct. 27, 2025. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to act now in using the state's Rainy Day Fund to provide funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as the government shutdown may cause 3.5 million Texans to lose access to funding for food. SNAP funds set to run out during shutdown: 5 takeaways "Texas has o…
Texas House Dems urge Gov. Greg Abbott to fund state’s SNAP benefits amid government shutdown
Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to declare a state of emergency and fund SNAP benefits for 3.5 million Texans who will lose food assistance in November due to the government shutdown.
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