Amarillo Region Braces for Hunger as Government Shutdown Halts SNAP

The government shutdown is impacting Americans nationwide, and soon it will hit home in Amarillo and communities across the Texas Panhandle.

Why Benefits Stop November 1: The Shutdown Connection

The USDA announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits will not be available on November 1.

Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.

With many not being able to access their benefits, it means that many families won't have access to the food they were receiving through SNAP.

How Many Texas Panhandle Residents Rely on SNAP

Over 3.5 million Texans will be affected; out of those millions of Texans, 51,400 in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle will be impacted.

According to Zack Wilson, Executive Director of the High Plains Food Bank,

The potential impact of delayed SNAP benefits will affect thousands in the Texas Panhandle. Over 13,000 households in the Texas Panhandle received food assistance last month and we expect this number to increase in the coming weeks.

According to Feeding America, these are the numbers of SNAP users in each county

These numbers are from August 2025 and the most recent data on SNAP users in the state of Texas, which include children, teens, adults, and the elderly. This data excludes individuals and families added after August.

Many of these people will turn to our local food banks, like the HPFB and churches, for help to supplement food while the government remains shut down. Until the government reopens and SNAP is once again funded, people will struggle with where their next meal is coming from. These organizations are bracing for an influx of people that they haven't served before.

What to do if you rely on SNAP in Amarillo

If you are affected by the SNAP freeze in the Texas Panhandle, here's where you can find help.

Read More: Big Jim’s Pizza Feeds Kids If SNAP Stops

Government Programs Still Operating and What Could Change

While SNAP is affected, WIC was funded for October and November; however, if the shutdown continues, it may soon be in trouble as well.  Other government programs that are currently unaffected include TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, School breakfast and lunches, and CSFP.

Read More: Texas Bans Soda and Candy From SNAP Program