LOS ANGELES – Nearly 2 million residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties could face food insecurity next month, as a federal government shutdown impacts the disbursement of CalFresh payments in November.
Nearly 1.5 million Los Angeles County residents receive CalFresh benefits, according to county Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. In Orange County, more than 310,000 residents receive the benefits, according to the county Social Services Agency.
The nearly monthlong shutdown means — at minimum — a delay in November benefits for about 42 million Americans, including 5.5 million in California, according to the state. More than 63% of California’s SNAP participants are children or elderly.
CalFresh is the California version of the federal food assistance program also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as EBT or food stamps. The program is entirely federally funded, but is managed by states and administered by counties.
Californians can still use CalFresh benefits left over from previous months.
“As we monitor the evolving funding situation, my focus is on making sure residents have clear information and access to local resources if benefits are delayed,” Barger said in a statement. “Our county is working hand in hand with state partners to minimize disruptions and keep families supported. I appreciate our community partners and food banks who are stepping up to help. This is a crucial moment for collaboration.”
According to Barger’s office, the county Department of Public Social Services has already been reaching out to CalFresh recipients to ensure they are aware of the situation and urging people with immediate needs to contact local food banks.
Orange County officials urged CalFresh recipients to call 211 or visit 211oc.org to learn about food, housing and utility resources. The also urged recipients to keep meeting all of the program’s reporting requirements to ensure their benefits resume quickly when the shutdown ends.
“The Social Services Agency issues on average $62 million a month in CalFresh benefits,” agency Director An Tran said in a statement. “This will not only have an impact on the families and individuals receiving benefits, but also the local economy. For every dollar of benefit spent at local retailers accepting EBT, up to $1.50 is generated.”
Government leaders had until Thursday to hash out a deal to end the shutdown without impacting federally funded programs such as SNAP/CalFresh. They did not meet that deadline.
Democrats and Republicans blame each other for the debacle, with Democrats refusing to vote on a budget bill without an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to keep health care premiums down, and Republicans refusing to budge on the matter, saying the health care issue can be debated later since the subsidies are in place until the end of the year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced he would deploy the California National Guard to the state’s food banks to assist, as well as fast-tracking $80 million in state funds to help alleviate the crisis.
“Trump’s failure isn’t abstract — it’s literally taking food out of people’s mouths,” Newsom said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is serious, this is urgent — and requires immediate action. Millions of Americans rely on food benefits to feed their families, and while Republicans in Washington drag their feet, California is stepping up once again to fill in the gaps.
“As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, California is working to ensure CalFresh recipients don’t go hungry while food prices are spiking under President Trump.”
Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said this week the program was “going to run out of money in two weeks” and pinned the blame on Democrats.
“Because of the Democrat shutdown, there are not enough funds to provide SNAP for 40 million Americans come Nov. 1,” Rollins posted on X. “Democrats are putting free health care for illegal aliens and their political agenda ahead of food security for American families. Shameful.”
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP has a contingency fund of about $6 billion, more than $5 billion of which should be available for use toward SNAP benefits, covering a large portion of the roughly $8 billion due in November.
The USDA head can also move funds among different nutrition programs, which it did earlier this month, transferring $300 million in tariff revenue to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (also known as WIC).
