Bread Urges Lawmakers to Prevent SNAP Funding Cliff

Washington, D.C., October 28, 2025 – Bread for the World issued the following statement regarding the potential impact of the SNAP funding cliff on November 1. The statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.

“Government shutdowns often have a negative impact on working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity. But the loss of SNAP benefits will be devastating. Approximately 42 million people, including 16 million children, rely on SNAP every month. This is the first time in the history of the program that SNAP recipients will not receive their monthly benefits.

“It is not just SNAP recipients who will be harmed if funding is not made available. Grocery stores, farmers, food processors, and the people who work for them, will also be impacted.

“Food banks across the country are already warning they will not be able to keep up with the demand if SNAP benefits run out. This means tens of millions of people will have nowhere to turn, and children will go hungry.

“Throughout the Bible, we are called on to care for our neighbors in need. And as the wealthiest country in history we cannot stand by and let this happen.

“Bread for the World thanks Senator Josh Hawley for his thoughtful bill, the Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would help fund SNAP during this crisis and future ones. Funding for the bill would come from general U.S. Treasury funds that have not been allocated for any other purpose. We also appreciate the bipartisan support this bill has already received.

“Bread urges Democrats and Republicans to work together to address the looming SNAP funding cliff. We also urge the USDA to take all available steps to fund the program through the shutdown. For the sake of the tens of millions of Americans unsure of where their next meal will come from after November 1, we pray they will be able to prevent it from happening. 

“Ultimately, we need lawmakers to come together and negotiate an end to the government shutdown.”