SNAP disruption would have devastating consequences for Oregonians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2025

Media Contacts:

Chris Baker, Administrator of the Oregon Hunger Task Force, chris@oregonhunger.org

Morgan Dewey, Media & Engagement Manager at Oregon Food Bank, press@oregonfoodbank.org

David Wieland, Policy Advocate at Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, david@oregonhunger.org

SNAP disruption would have devastating consequences for Oregonians

Oregon anti-hunger advocates stand with families, providers, and organizations as federal inaction and shutdown risks November SNAP benefits

The Oregon Hunger Task Force (OHTF), Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, and Oregon Food Bank stand with Oregon families, food providers, and community organizations in expressing deep concern over the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s announcement that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be distributed in November due to the ongoing shutdown. This action will immediately and severely impact hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families.

Every month, more than 750,000 Oregonians including children, seniors, veterans, and working families depend on SNAP to put food on the table.

Currently, 1 in 8 Oregonians and 1 in 6 children face hunger. These numbers are expected to worsen sharply if SNAP payments halt in November. Without November benefits, households will be forced to make impossible choices between paying for food, rent, electricity, medication, and other essentials. Rural and frontier communities, where food access is already fragile and grocery options are few, will be hit particularly hard.

Oregon’s food assistance system, including food banks, meal programs, mutual aid groups, and community pantries, is already operating beyond capacity. The Oregon Food Bank Network alone distributed a record 125 million pounds of food in FY2025 – equivalent to 105 million meals – yet demand continues to rise. These organizations are vital first responders in times of crisis, but they cannot absorb the loss of SNAP, a $1.8 billion program that fuels both household well-being and local economies.

The Oregon Hunger Task Force and its partners including the Oregon Food Bank, Meals on Wheels People, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Farmers Ending Hunger, along with legislators and local food providers statewide are coordinating with Governor Tina Kotek’s Office and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to ensure Oregonians continue to be fed during this interruption.

The OHTF reaffirms that access to food is a fundamental human right, declared by the Oregon Legislature in 1989. We are united in the belief that no Oregonian should go hungry because of federal inaction. The USDA has authority to use contingency and carryover funds to keep SNAP running as it has done in previous shutdowns. The agency can and should choose to do so again.

In moments like this, Oregon’s strength lies in community. Local food providers, mutual aid groups, and volunteers across the state are stepping up once again but they cannot do it alone. We urge Oregonians who can to support their local food pantries, and meal programs to donate where possible, and reach out to neighbors in need.

In this urgent moment, we call on federal leaders to act swiftly to restore SNAP benefits and stabilize the systems that keep people fed. Hunger should never be used as leverage in political negotiations. The USDA has the authority to use contingency and carryover funds to keep SNAP running, as it has done during previous shutdowns. The agency can and should choose to do so again.

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About the Oregon Hunger Task Force

Since 1989, the Oregon Hunger Task Force has worked as a statewide advocate for Oregonians who are hungry or at risk of hunger. The Task Force works collaboratively with stakeholders throughout Oregon to promote community awareness, compile research, and develop proposals for government action. Learn more at www.oregonhungertaskforce.org.

About Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon

At Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, we work alongside those most impacted by hunger and poverty to advocate for systemic changes and better access to food. We believe everyone has the right to be free from hunger. To bring that vision into reality, we raise awareness about hunger, connect people to nutrition programs, and advocate for systemic changes. Learn more at www.oregonhunger.org.

About Oregon Food Bank

At Oregon Food Bank, we believe that food and health are basic human rights for all. We know that hunger is not just an individual experience; it is also a community-wide symptom of barriers to employment, education, housing, and healthcare. That’s why we work systemically in our mission to end hunger in Oregon: we build community connections to help people access nourishing, affordable food today, and we build community power to eliminate the root causes of hunger for good. Join us online OregonFoodBank.org and @oregonfoodbank on social media.