Pritzker looking at how Illinois can cover looming SNAP funding lapse

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In less than two weeks, and with the upcoming holiday season, the ongoing federal government shutdown is expected to suspend taxpayer funding for food subsidies.

U.S. Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ bill to reopen the federal government for the 10th time Thursday. The funding lapse started Oct. 1.

Thursday, the Illinois Department of Human Service announced federal officials informed all states that it will not fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits past Nov. 1 if the government shutdown persists. In Illinois, the lapse of SNAP funding could impact 1.9 million people.

Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his administration is looking at how state taxpayers can cover the potential of the lapse of federal tax dollars.

“It’s not a state program. It’s a federal program that we administer, but they are making it near impossible,” Pritzker told reporters after an unrelated event. “So I am hoping that the shutdown will end before Nov. 1.”

Some of that help could be to food pantries, Pritzker said.

“We’re looking at ways that we might be able to at least augment what they’re not going to get,” he said.

Pritzker said it’s up to President Donald Trump to get the government back open. Democrats have shifted their demands, saying they will only vote on the clean Continuing Resolution to fund federal agencies if Republicans guarantee that a health policy bill will pass.

Kate Maehr, the CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, told a recent Illinois House Committee that other impacts to SNAP are coming, even if the shutdown ends and the government opens. Those changes include work requirements to get the benefits.

“The Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that 450,000 Illinoisans will be impacted by these requirements, which will begin in December of 2025.”

The approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans utilizing the food subsidy cost federal taxpayers $705 million in 2024.

Thérèse Boudreaux contributed to this report.