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SNAP food benefits are set to pause in North Dakota this Saturday if the federal shutdown continues through Friday.
The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services says benefits will be paused November 1 because the state cannot load EBT cards without federal authorization.
Federal officials signaled over the weekend that no November SNAP benefits will be issued nationally while the shutdown persists, leaving states unable to disburse payments.
Households can still use any October benefits already on their cards, but new November issuances won’t load unless funding resumes.
For families in Jamestown and across Stutsman County, state offices remain open for questions and applications, but eligibility approvals cannot be processed until federal systems reopen.
In past shutdowns, administrations have used contingency funding to keep SNAP payments going — but the Trump administration has ruled out that option, saying it will not authorize emergency transfers during the current shutdown. Meanwhile, several states — including California, Oregon, and Illinois — have announced or discussed using state funds to temporarily cover food assistance during the lapse.
The USDA confirmed last week that states taking that step will not be reimbursed, leaving local governments to decide whether to bridge the gap on their own.
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