Bread Urges Lawmakers to End the Government Shutdown

Washington, D.C., October 1, 2025 – Bread for the World issued the following statement regarding the shutdown of the United States government. The statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.

“Bread for the World urges members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to come together in good faith to end the government shutdown. The proposed continuing resolution must be duly considered, while members also seek to address the devastating impact of recent Medicaid cuts on families. Extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, and many lawmakers are concerned about the impact of recent cuts on their constituents.

“Government shutdowns often have a devastating impact on people who struggle to put food on the table, including working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity as funding for SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other nutrition assistance programs runs out.

“Government shutdowns are especially hard on lower- and middle-income federal employees and contractors who will not receive pay during the shutdown. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more difficult it is for these families.

“But, in this case, the implications could be even worse for tens thousands of federal workers and their families if the White House follows through on its threat of mass firings. Thousands of federal employees in both Republican and Democratic districts are likely to be affected.  

“For the good of America’s families, members of Congress need to put their differences aside, act with good faith, and negotiate a bipartisan deal to end the government shutdown.”

Potential Impacts of an Extended Government Shutdown

• Food assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients could be impacted by delays and other issues within a month of a government shutdown. The 2018-2019 shutdown lasted 35 days.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves approximately 7 million pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five each month, is expected to run out of funding within a week of a government shutdown.  
• Free and reduced-price school meal programs across the country, as well as meals served in Head Start and day care centers, could be affected. Schools and school districts will need to subsidize the cost of the meals. Rural and other school districts with smaller budgets could be hit especially hard. This happened during the 2018 government shutdown.
• Emergency humanitarian aid programs could be interrupted due to agencies being forced to shut down as well as potential staff cuts, which could have fatal consequences.