Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Federal Shutdown Impacts

Federal Shutdown Impacts

On October 1, 2025 the U.S. government shut down because the Republican-led Congress couldn't pass a federal budget. The shutdown is still underway, and critical federally funded support programs are starting to pause their services as we wait for it to end.

You can get up-to-date information on services impacted by the shutdown here. 

Rep. Scott Co-Sponsors House Resolution Establishing Hunger Task Force

(November 12, 2025)

Rep. Greg Scott has co-sponsored House Resolution 357, introduced by Rep. Amen Brown, D-Philadelphia, that would establish a bipartisan legislative task force to confront food insecurity across Pennsylvania. You can read more about the resolution here. Read more

 

Local Food Resources

(November 7, 2025)

The federal government shutdown continues, and as of today, SNAP benefits have been halted for all recipients. I know many of you rely on SNAP to keep your families fed and healthy. My team and I see you and we feel for you. Please know that we’re here to offer our support in any way that we can. Below you’ll find a list of local resources that can help connect you with food resources while SNAP is unavailable. 211 Southeast PA is a free, 24/7 resource connecting families to essential services like housing, food, mental health, and utilities. Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or visit PA 211's website for assistance. 211 has a Food Program and Pantry Database that provides location and contact information. ACLAMO , 801 West Marshall Street, Norristown. 610-277-2570. Serves Montgomery County. Open the second and fourth Fridays each month. Community Interfaith of Central Montgomery County at Grace Lutheran , 506 Haws Ave., Norristown. Requires photo ID and limits visits to once a month. 484-363-9378. Haws Avenue Food Pantry and Free Meals , 800 W. Marshall Street, Norristown, 610-275-1283. Requires a photo ID. Serves Norristown west of Markley Street. Pantry is open the third Tuesday each month and fourth Saturday each month. Soup Kitchen is open Sundays and Mondays. HopeWorx , 1210 Stanbridge St., Suite 600, Norristown. 610-270-3500. Requires emergency contact form. Open Monday through Friday. ICNA Read more

 

 Governor Shapiro Takes Legal Action to Demand USDA Use Available Contingency Funds to Pay November SNAP Payments and Ensure Nearly Two Million Pennsylvanians Are Fed

(October 29, 2025)

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro took legal action to demand the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) use billions of dollars in available, Congressionally-appropriated contingency funding to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown and ensure nearly two million Pennsylvanians receive the critical food assistance they need to feed themselves and their families. Governor Shapiro joined a coalition of 24 states in suing the Trump Administration for unlawfully suspending SNAP. The lawsuit argues that while normal appropriations for SNAP have lapsed because Republicans in Washington — who control both Congress and the White House – failed to pass a federal budget, alternative funds do exist and must be used to fund the program. In Pennsylvania last year, approximately 714,000 children and 697,000 seniors relied on SNAP every month. “For the first time since the program began in 1964, SNAP payments have been halted across the country because the Trump Administration has decided to use critical food assistance as a political bargaining chip,” said Governor Shapiro . “That is unacceptable, especially when the USDA has billions of dollars in Congressionally-appropriated contingency funding on hand to fund SNAP and ensure millions of people don’t go hungry. Republicans in Washington need to come to the table and reopen the Read more

 

SNAP News as of October 24, 2025

(October 24, 2025)

SNAP: What You Need to Know The federal government shut down on October 1, 2025 because our Republican-controlled U.S. Congress can’t pass a federal budget. The shutdown doesn’t only impact federal workers. It also means critical, federally funded programs can’t provide their services. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, is one of those critical programs. Just over 4,000 households in our district – over 4,000 of your families! – rely on SNAP to put food on the table. But due to the federal shutdown, these households won’t receive a SNAP payment this November. What Else is Different? New work requirements also go into effect on November 1. Back in September, the federal government’s rules about eligibility and time limits changed, and PA became ineligible to offer waivers by county or municipality. On November 1, the work requirements are changing again. SNAP recipients will still need to report on meeting the work requirements, which include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours per week. But who is required to report will be expanded so that more recipients must do it: The expanded requirements apply if you: Are age 18-64 Do not have a dependent child under the age of 14 Are considered physically and mentally able to work Being a veteran or a current or former foster youth no longer Read more

 

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Delayed

(October 24, 2025)

Because of the Republican-led U.S. government shutdown, Pennsylvania is being forced to delay LIHEAP—vital home-heating assistance for 300,000 families—by a full month. The program will open December 3, 2025 intead of its previously planned November 3. If you need help heating your home this winter, here's a list of utility companies' assistance programs. https://www.puc.pa.gov/about-the-puc/consumer-education/utility-assistance-programs/ . Read more