In Two Days, Nutrition Assistance Funding Could Lapse for the First Time in History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 30, 2025

FARGO – On November 1, 2025, funding for nutrition assistance will lapse for the first time in the history of SNAP. The same day, open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act begins. SNAP’s Contingency Reserve is available, but the Trump administration refuses to use it. North Dakota’s governor has directed more than $1.5 million in state funds to support food assistance programs during the shutdown. Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are on vacation and refuse to return or negotiate an end to the shutdown.

“The federal government is taking away food and health care from the poor to fund tax breaks to billionaires. It is proper and charitable that the Governor directed this funding to support food assistance programs. But the partisan dig at the end of his announcement is misdirected.” Senator Tim Mathern, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (D-11) said, “U.S. Senate Democrats are asking for Congressional Republicans to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits so North Dakotans’ health care premiums don’t skyrocket next year, and to cancel the Medicaid cuts that will kick at least 18,000 North Dakotans off their health care coverage. Our Republican Insurance Commissioner has also asked the delegation to extend the ACA tax credits. Forcing Americans to choose between prioritizing hunger or health care is cruel, and it’s a false dilemma. Our members of Congress need to get back to work and negotiate with the Democrats.”

“Governor Armstrong is getting credit for stepping up to use ND tax dollars to shore up food pantries. I can acknowledge that this is a good thing, but this means North Dakotans are using state dollars to pay for the services we have already paid the federal government to fund. Trump and his Republican majority have the power to keep millions of American families from starving, but they refuse to use SNAP’s contingency reserve.” North Dakota Democratic-NPL Executive Director Cheryl Biller said, “Democrats are trying to prevent a massive health care crisis for thousands of North Dakotans. Julie Fedorchak needs to get back to work, and she, Hoeven, and Cramer need to get to the negotiating table. It’s called governing, and they won’t do it.”

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
laura.dronen@demnpl.com