DES MOINES, Iowa — A quarter of a million Iowans are at risk of losing access to the federal SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) if the federal government is not reopened before the start of next month.

The United States Department of Agriculture confirmed that on its website on Monday; stating that the well has run dry and benefits won’t be given out unless government funding is passed.

$45 million a month in federal funding is utilized by Iowans to help buy groceries and make ends meet. Without SNAP benefits, people will lean on food banks. The Food Bank of Iowa hosted Congressman Zach Nunn (R) from Iowa’s Third Congressional District for a tour of the facility, while leaders at the food bank highlighted the importance of keeping SNAP funded.

“We’re really concerned about what another influx will do on top of our regular, record-breaking distribution,” said Tami Nielsen, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa. “For instance, right now we are spending more per month on food than we did the entire year of 2019. Our resources are limited and the influx of neighbors in need that are going to need services will be great.”

Food bank usage has been increasing steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food Bank of Iowa is run off of donations and help from volunteers. The resources the food bank currently has will not be able to put a dent in the gap SNAP benefit delays will create.

“We serve 55 of Iowa’s 99 counties. And we distribute over two million pounds of food every month. And it’s just not enough,” said Emily Shearer, the Vice President of Food Acquisition and Advocacy at the Food Bank of Iowa. Shearer also highlighted the economic impact SNAP has to the state, with those now millions of dollars a month in spending at risk.

Congressman Nunn has been touring food banks in the state while being back home during he government shutdown.

“We’ve already been in conversations with both the USDA through Secretary Rollins as well as the administration, and see what we can do to be able to provide assistance,” said Rep. Nunn. “…and I feel cautiously optimistic that we’re going to be able to help those families going forward. But I don’t want any family, I don’t want any federal employee, I don’t want any military member to have to go without pay or assistance.”

Nunn does point at some Senate Democrats that have not voted in favor of the continuing resolution to fund the government.

“Real health care concerns are going to hit families across the board from Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP loss, WIC loss. It doesn’t have to be like that,” said Nunn. “It’s one of the reasons that we passed it so that we could help these families. But the reality is people are being hurt now for something that the minority party wants to talk about in 2026. Let’s open up the government. Let’s do the right thing by the American people, and absolutely lets move forward the ACA tax credits. That’s something I’ve supported for a long time.”

President Nielsen told WHO 13 News that the Food Bank of Iowa was participating in a phone call on Monday with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services along with other foodbanks. That was something Governor Reynolds instructed the department to do last week with the risk of SNAP benefits being delayed and the demand from food banks increasing.