Federal shutdown leads to strain on Arizona food assistance programs

Updated Nov. 16, 2025: Information is evolving about SNAP benefits as the government shutdown comes to a close.
• The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) announced funding for SNAP is secured. The agency is taking immediate action to issue any outstanding benefits and resume normal benefit operations.

The U.S. Congress failed to pass appropriations by the September 30, 2025, deadline, triggering a funding lapse which is rippling through Arizona’s nutrition safety net, raising concerns among food-banks, program administrators and thousands of residents.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Arizona issued October benefits as scheduled, but the state warns benefits will be unavailable beginning November 1, 2025, until federal funding is restored.

According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, nearly 900,000 Arizonans rely on SNAP benefits each month, including families with children, seniors and veterans.

On October 23, the Arizona Department of Economic Security stated they “will be unable to provide Nutrition Assistance (NA or SNAP) benefits in November until further notice,” adding, “Approved participants of the SNAP program will be unable to collect November benefits until federal funding is released to states.”

On Wednesday, October, 29, 2025, Governor Katie Hobbs announced her office would deploy $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support Arizonans affected by the lack of SNAP assistance, adding “$300,000 in funds will be deployed to Food Bucks Now, a new emergency fresh food program deployed through the Double Up Arizona network to shore up food assistance for families who participate in SNAP.”

Ashley St. Thomas, Director of Public Policy at the Arizona Food Bank Network, joined “Arizona Horizon” on Wednesday to explain how the end of SNAP benefits in the state might impact those who rely on them.

Locate a food bank near you

To locate a food bank near you, visit these online resources:
• This list on the Arizona Food Bank Network’s website.
• This list on the Local First Arizona website.
• Visit the St. Vincent De Paul website to learn about their network of food pantries.
• Learn about home deliveries provided by St. Mary’s Food Bank.
• Download a flyer with information in English and Spanish about emergency food assistance courtesy of NourishPHX.

How you can help

Community support is crucial. Donations to regional food-banks like the Arizona Food Bank Network, St. Mary’s Food Bank, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank and others help maintain essential services. Volunteers, whether to sort food, take phone calls or serve neighbors, and financial contributions allow these agencies to expand capacity when more members of the community are seeking help.

Local First Arizona and the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office are inviting small businesses to step in with specials, meals-for-neighbors and aid to bridge the gap. Visit Local First Arizona’s website or the Arizona Secretary of State’s website for details.

Also, please consider sharing this article on Facebook, LinkedIn or by email.

What this means going forward

Food-banks warn that even with current supports in place, a prolonged shutdown could stress the system. They emphasize the need for funding to cover transportation, staffing and food procurement so they can respond to increased demand. School-meal and child-nutrition programs are expected to continue for now, but they may face staffing or delivery delays if the shutdown drags on.

This information originally supplied by Arizona Food Bank Network.

^{We believe in transparency and authenticity. AI was used to conduct research for this article.}