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The federal government is reopening, but there’s still uncertainty about when one of the most far-reaching impacts of the closure will be resolved and all 42 million Americans who receive SNAP food aid will have access to their full November benefits.

President Donald Trump signed the reopening measure Wednesday.

One provision calls for restarting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but it doesn’t resolve when the benefits will be loaded onto the debit cards beneficiaries use to buy groceries.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the program, said in an email Wednesday that funds could be available “upon the government reopening, within 24 hours for most states.” The department didn’t immediately answer questions about where it might take longer — or whether the 24-hour timeline applies to when money would be available to states or loaded onto debit cards used by beneficiaries.

There has been a series of court battles over the fate of the largest government food program, which serves about 1 in 8 Americans.

Here are things to know about how it could go.

When will SNAP become available?

Seesawing court rulings and messages from the USDA have meant that beneficiaries in some states already have received their full monthly allocations, while in others they have received nothing. Some states have issued partial payments.

States say it’s faster to provide full benefits than it is to do the calculations and computer programming required for partial amounts.

At least 19 states plus the District of Columbia issued full benefits to at least some recipients last week, an Associated Press tally found. Many of them managed to do it in a day or so, in the narrow window between the Nov. 6 court ruling that required the federal government to make full payments and one Nov. 7 by the U.S. Supreme Court that stopped it.

Jessica Garon, a spokesperson for the American Public Human Services Association, said she anticipates most states will be able to issue full benefits within three days after they’re given the go-ahead, but that it might take a week for others.

Update on flight restrictions

Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% by the end of the week because more air traffic controllers are coming to work, officials said Wednesday.

The flight cuts were implemented last week as more air traffic controllers were calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed. Air traffic controllers missed two paychecks during the impasse.

The Department of Transportation said the flight reduction decision was made on recommendations from the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety team, after a “rapid decline” in controller callouts.

The 6% limit will stay in place while officials assess whether the air traffic system can safely return to normal operations, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, although he did not provide a timeline Wednesday.

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WARSAW — It's crunch time at Combined Community Services.

CCS was already seeing an increase in demand for food in recent months, due to various reasons, but then the government shutdown came

And that led to the first-ever disruption of SNAP, the government's biggest food assistance program, which has addedd a fresh sense of intensity with the holidays just around the corner.

"The impact really has been immediate," said Kiira Churchhill, executive director for CCS.

Churchill on Wednesday said that 265 families needing food had used the CCS pantry on Monday and Tuesday, the first days after SNAP benefits expired.

"Over 40 percent of those families were on SNAP at some point in the last few months, and 11 of those families were brand new to CCS, had never used services before,” Churchill said.

“This week definitely marks a new, challenging season for many of us who are in the non-profit realm,” Churchill said. “But especially for those of us who serve food.”

Churchill was joined by Amy Pitt, a caseworker with CCS, for this week's In The Now, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

While a judge ordered the Trump Administration on Thursday to resume full SNAP benefits, some delays are expected before the new flow of benefits begins to move.

Churchill and Pitt were asked whether the additional pressures are making it more difficult to satisfy the normal holiday demand.

"We are faith-based and we know the Lord will provide," Pitt said.

One of CCS's holiday programs is Adopt-A-Family, which matches families with other families who want to provide Christmas gifts.

On Wednesday, families seeking to be recipients of the program began lining up 90 minutes before doors opened at CCS on Wednesday morning

“That demonstrates need," Pitt said. "If you’re going to come and stand in line for a couple of hours, to try to have your family adopted for Christmas. “Families want to provide for their children and have those holiday memories and holiday experiences.”

The next phase of the program involves families who will adopt a family for Christmas, she said.

Food A Thon, the annual two-day event, is Friday and Saturday at CCS offices on Mariners Drive and is intended to generate food to help families while children are at a home for the holiday break.

CCS is seeing financial support as well as a full range of food.

Churchill said they are seeing more signs of increased homelessness in the community and that they expect an increased demand for assistance with rising utility bills this winter.

This week's show also looks at Churchill's return to CCS earlier this year in a new role and other programs at CCS.

You can learn more about CCS here.

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

The post Demand grows over loss of SNAP benefits as CCS launhes annual holiday programs appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) has initiated an urgent program, Operation Emergency Food, to provide critical food assistance to veterans and their families impacted by current disruptions to federal food aid.

This short-term initiative is an extension of the existing Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF) and is designed to address the immediate and essential food needs of MFRF-eligible veteran families facing the temporary loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

“Indiana stands with our Hoosier veterans, especially in times of uncertainty as federal changes to SNAP and furloughs impact families across our state,” said Jake Adams, IDVA Director. “Our commitment remains firm: no veteran should face these changes and challenges alone. Indiana is here, ready to support those who have served us with the same dedication they have shown to our nation.”

The IDVA created Operation Emergency Food to ensure that veteran families who depend on SNAP do not go hungry during the current circumstances. The program is set to remain in place for the duration of the SNAP payment interruption.

To qualify for this emergency food assistance, veterans or their families must meet MFRF eligibility requirements and be directly affected by the changes in SNAP benefits.

The IDVA is encouraging all veterans facing food insecurity to immediately apply. Interested veterans can seek support by:

Visiting the MFRF Application Webpage, calling the IDVA at (317) 232-3910 or contacting their local County Veteran Service Officer.

Veterans who are not currently receiving SNAP benefits but are experiencing food insecurity are also encouraged to apply through the MFRF Standard Application, which can provide financial assistance for housing, utilities, food, and other basic needs.

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Republicans on Indiana’s State Budget Committee rejected an effort to direct state surplus funding to low-income Hoosiers and food banks as federal SNAP benefits expire next month amid a federal shutdown.

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, urged Indiana leaders to step up, arguing that hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers are at risk of losing the food aid they receive through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

More than 571,000 Hoosiers were receiving SNAP benefits in September, the latest data available, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

SNAP benefits are provided on an electronic benefit card that is used like a debit card and accepted at most grocery stores. The benefit is 100% federally funded and administrative costs are split 50% with states — for now.

“We just have to have the will to do it,” Porter said during the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting. “We just (want to) take care of people that live next door to us and in our communities.”

Porter’s motion was symbolic in nature: calling on the governor and the State Board of Finance to take “concrete action” under their authority and provide funding to SNAP recipients and food banks.

Porter said state officials have moved money around for emergencies in the past. He noted the current state budget includes a $300 million contingency fund for three agencies, including the Family and Social Services Administration.

State Budget Director Chad Ranney said that money is for agencies that might have a shortfall in the budget’s second year because of state funding cuts.

Ranney said the Braun administration could take action on its own, without a statement from the State Budget Committee. But a transfer for SNAP would be complicated, he cautioned.

That’s because the money never flows to the state — instead going from the federal government to a third-party provider that loads it onto the EBT cards.

Indiana’s SNAP benefits cost about $112 million a month.

Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis, said it would be easier to send additional support to food banks, which will immediately face an increase in demand from hungry Hoosiers.

Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, observed that state coffers are running ahead of tax projections. First quarter results show an additional $270 million in revenue has flowed to the state over what was expected.

“It’s just that, unfortunately, Washington, D.C., they’re not getting their acts together, and people will be hungry in the state of Indiana,” Qaddoura said. “I think the responsible thing for us to do as legislators and as a committee is truly to work with the governor’s office and be sure that at least for the upcoming month, hopefully, until they reopen the federal government, that no one in our state goes hungry.”

Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, said the administration appears to have options but the issue is too complicated to add to the committee’s agenda. Republicans voted 3-2 against the move.

The FSSA said current balances on EBT cards remain available for use. Hoosiers in need of support are encouraged to call 211 to learn about local resources and services available.

“The surest way to protect Hoosiers from a disruption in their SNAP benefits is for Senate Democrats to quickly pass the Clean Continuing Resolution,” FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob said in a statement. “Until then, families across Indiana are left in limbo — their ability to put food on the table tied up in political gridlock.”

Indiana will likely be on the hook for more SNAP costs in the future under changes from President Donald Trump’s administration.

States will pay a percentage of benefit costs depending on their error rates starting October 2027, and they’ll have to pony up for 75% of the administrative costs beginning October 2026. Those changes could cost Indiana up to $264 million more annually, according to FSSA estimates.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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WASHINGTON — As the federal government shutdown extends to day 17, and with congressional leaders nowhere near negotiating, state officials are beginning to raise concerns of potential cuts to nutrition assistance benefits that feed millions if the government isn’t reopened.

Minnesota has already halted new enrollments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. And officials in Kansas, New Hampshire and New Mexico have warned their residents could miss their food assistance payments for November.

 More than 42 million Americans rely on the program, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture administers. The federal government funds nearly all the program benefits, with states administering the program.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned Thursday that SNAP will run out of funds in two weeks if Congress fails to strike a deal and end the government shutdown.

“You’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown,” she said outside the White House on Thursday.

USDA could not be reached for comment on Friday.

USDA has directed regional SNAP directors to stop working on benefits for November, according to an Oct. 10 letter obtained by Politico, written by the program’s acting associate administrator, Ronald Ward.

“Considering the operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems, and in the interest of preserving maximum flexibility, we are forced to direct States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT vendors until further notice,” Ward wrote. “This includes on-going SNAP benefits and daily files.”

USDA has already shuffled more than $300 million in tariff revenue into the agency’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, through the rest of the month.

The shutdown started Oct. 1 after Congress failed to find a bipartisan path forward on a stopgap spending bill.

Senate Democrats have pushed for negotiations to extend the enhanced tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year for people who buy their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Republicans have insisted on passing the House’s version of the stopgap funding bill that does not address insurance premiums.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post SNAP benefits on pace to run out in two weeks if shutdown persists appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

In the coming days, a food aid program that helps millions of mothers and young children will likely run out of money. States like Indiana must use their own dollars to keep funds flowing to families or let it lapse, a move that could cut benefits for the 157,000 Hoosiers who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC.

But the Indiana Department of Health declined to share specifics about how WIC would operate in the state, saying that “funds have been identified to keep WIC operating as normal for the foreseeable future.”

“IDOH continues to monitor the situation, and WIC is operating as normal,” said Greta Sanderson, the chief communications officer for the agency.

But advocates warn of the potential impacts to Hoosier mothers — including those who are pregnant — and children relying on government services like WIC if such funds ran out.

“It’s providing nutrition to a population where nutrition is critical for development,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, the executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “… no matter what, our member food banks will continue to be there for communities and for our neighbors who are in need of food assistance.”

Bryant said other food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, appeared to have steady funding in the coming weeks alongside WIC. However, SNAP is reportedly also running out of money even as the Trump administration explores using tariff revenue to fund WIC.

In a preliminary estimate on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, 156,752 Hoosiers received benefits from WIC in May 2025, the latest data available. Of those, more than half — 87,000, or 56% — were children while infants and mothers each made up 22% of Indiana’s total, or roughly 35,000.

Between October 1, 2024 — the beginning of the federal fiscal year — and May, the federal government allotted nearly $80 million to Indiana’s WIC program, $24 million of which went to administrative costs.

Some states are reportedly chipping in their own funds to keep the program running, including Mississippi, Colorado and Connecticut. Other states, like Washington, say they don’t have money available.

The program is one of thousands funded by the federal government, which has had its funding frozen since Oct. 1. Most government offices continue to function as normal during the partisan budget standoff, but cracks are beginning to show — and Hoosiers will be dealing with the consequences.

Already, a key federal jobs report was delayed and fewer staff are at the state’s only federal park in northern Indiana, though it remains open through the shutdown.

Other programs impacted by the shutdown

Indiana is slightly more dependent on federal funding than the average state, with 40% of the state’s budget coming from Washington, D.C. compared to 36% for all 50 states, according to Pew. The nonprofit notes that federal programs have rolling deadlines for funding to expire, meaning that some programs don’t need additional appropriations for a few more years.

Gov. Mike Braun’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Molly Craft spoke generally about the federal shutdown’s impact on state services last week: “We are in good shape.”

“Let’s see how long this goes. We have smart people leading different agencies — we’ll work out with them the details to try to make sure Hoosiers are served well, despite whatever may happen in D.C.,” she said.

Indiana education officials said the immediate effects of a federal government shutdown on K-12 schools will likely be limited — at least at first.

Courtney Bearsch, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education, said the department “is continuing the normal operations of programs funded by federal grants,” given that a majority of IDOE’s federal funding is already authorized for the 2025-2026 school year.

“If the shutdown lasts for an extended period,” Bearsch added, “IDOE will re-evaluate the situation, along with our state-level partners.”

Because most federal grants to schools were awarded over the summer, the U.S. Department of Education expects minimal disruption to day-to-day district operations.

Federal officials said Title I funds, which support schools with higher concentrations of students in poverty, and funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will continue to flow. But the agency will halt new grantmaking, pause its advisory and regulatory activities, and stop investigations into alleged civil rights violations during the shutdown.

The federal education department will also continue processing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, which colleges and universities rely on to assemble financial aid packages.

Still, the pause in government services could be felt sooner in certain Indiana districts that rely on Impact Aid — a federal program that supports school systems on or near federal lands, such as military installations, which can’t be taxed locally. Those payments are made directly to schools, not through the state, and typically arrive later in the calendar year.

Bearsch said IDOE is not notified when schools receive Impact Aid payments, but noted that last year’s funding went out in December.

The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools warned on Friday that “districts are facing an immediate and significant cash-flow crisis” if payments are delayed.

Six Indiana school districts received Impact Aid in fiscal year 2025, totaling more than $900,000, according to NAFIS.

Those included: Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., $261,886; Bloomfield School District, $23,669; Loogootee School Corporation, $303452; Madison Consolidated Schools, $81,796; Perry Central Community School Corp., $167,208; and South Ripley Community School Corp., $76,487.

It’s not clear how much funding districts are expecting for the current fiscal year.

Federal employees

But, as Pew notes, shutdowns also halt government services such as rulemaking, grantmaking and technical assistance — impacting the employees tasked with reviewing Medicaid waivers, transportation planning and environmental grants.

At least 600,000 federal employees could be suspended, depending on each agency’s definition of who qualifies as essential. Indiana has roughly 25,000 federal employees within its borders. work without pay, including the country’s troops, immigration agents and air traffic controllers. Friday’s paycheck — which covers the pay period from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7 — was the first partial payment since the shutdown began.

And the Trump administration started permanent layoffs on Friday, including:

• Commerce: 315 employees
• Education: 466 employees
• Energy: 187 employees
• Health and Human Services: between 1,100 and 1,200 employees
• Housing and Urban Development: 442 employees
• Homeland Security: 176 employees
• Treasury: 1,446 employees

Staffing issues at several airports have caused delays nationwide, from California’s Hollywood Burbank Airport to Newark, New Jersey. Some airports with zero flight controllers for several hours cancelled flights.

Though the Indianapolis airport hasn’t yet had a delay reported to the National Airspace System due to its staff, any change in any part of the greater system has a ripple effect.

In past shutdowns, employees who are furloughed were guaranteed backpay — but a draft White House memo shared with Axios floats the possibility that the Trump administration may reverse that precedent.

Bryant, with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, pointed to increasing levels of food insecurity, saying that the greater Feeding America network — whose donation page explicitly mentions supporting families during the shutdown — anticipates increased demand in the coming weeks.

“This shutdown creates uncertainty for millions of civilian and military federal employees and employees of federal contractors,” said Bryant. “All of whom are at risk of paycheck disruptions and maybe not getting back pay.

“Many of these hard-working folks are just one paycheck away from needing support from their local food bank or pantry.”

Families in need can download the Community Compass app to locate food resources, including free groceries or meals, stores participating in SNAP, WIC clinics and more.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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WARSAW — Plans to establish four new programs that will address food insecurity in Kosciusko County received a green light this week.

Kosciusko County’s Health First Indiana advisory committee recommended that the county health board support spending nearly $50,000 on four programs proposed by Caroline Arnett, who has worked for 10 years on food insecurity issues for the Purdue Extension office, including the last two years in the Warsaw office across from the Kosciusko County Justice Building.

The four-pronged approach was proposed by the Kosciusko Food Security Coalition, which was established about 18 months ago and is headed up by Arnett.

Efforts to improve access to food for local residents are supported by recent research.

A study that relied on US Census statistics found that the number of people who believe they're not getting enough food stood at 9.0 percent in 2021, but that's been rising and reached 13.9 percent in 2023.

 “So that’s about 10,900 people in Kosciusko that feel they can’t access food easily to live a safe and healthy lifestyle,” Arnett said.

Much of that increase had to do with the pandemic, but recent policy changes at the state and federal levels are expected to make circumstances even worse, officials believe.

A wellness study initiated as part of HELP, Hoosiers Enduring Legacy Program, which was headed up by Lisa Harman, executive director with Live Well Kosciusko, found that food security is a top wellness issue for many throughout the county.

Kosciusko County's Health First advisory Council voted to recommend that the county health board support funding the proposals, using Health First Indiana money allocated by the state.

Likely the biggest proposal is the creation of a SNAP coordinator who would network throughout the county to encourage those who qualify to sign up for SNAP benefits, formerly known by many as food stamps.

"If you sign up for SNAP, that tends to be the No. 1 way to reduce food insecurity in your community," Arnett said. "It's the easiest way, too. Plus, it brings money into our community for local stores, which I think we all appreciate that."

The coordinator would be a contracted position and work out of the Live Well Kociusko office in the K21 Health Pavilion near Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital.

The coordinator would help people overcome barriers such as literacy or the lack of transportation needed to visit the Family and Social Services Administration office in Warsaw, where SNAP is administered locally.

The job would also have an educational component.

“That person can also direct them to our local food pantries … and even help with nutrition or guidance on about how to stretch their dollars and their budget,” Harman said.

The existence of SNAP coordinators is somewhat common in other counties.

"In some counties, you might see two, three or four, and right now, we don’t have any,” Arnett said.

Another proposal would help expand an existing Indiana program known as Double Up Bucks, which doubles the buying power of SNAP recipients who are purchasing healthy food at farmers' markets.

The third program is aimed at providing healthy food to those who have cancer or are living with chronic disease or obesity.

"Meating the Need" is the fourth effort and involves distributing meat purchased from farmers.

The third and fourth programs also have a nutritional component.

Arnett has more ideas that she’s developing and said she wants to work more closely with food pantries, food banks and local farmers.

Sourcing locally grown food is often a better choice, she said.

Farmers can play an important role.

“We also want them to know that if they are in a position to donate anything from their farms, whether it's fruits and vegetables or meats, there is a large need for it,” Arnett said, adding that such donations can be a tax write-off.

Arnett provided details of the four programs to Kosciusko County's Health First Advisory Council on Wednesday night. Earlier on Wednesday, Arnett and Harman talked with News Now Warsaw about food insecurity for this weekend's public affairs show, In the Know.

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

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