Alameda County’s Responds to the SNAP benefit cuts during the Government Shutdown

By Staff Writers Amber Halvorsen & Warren Su

The government shutdown from October 1 to November 12 led to a federal funding crisis for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving more than 40 million Americans and 5.5 million Californians without the food stamps they rely on. President Donald Trump repeatedly appealed the decision to block SNAP payments despite orders from the federal court. Though Trump asked states like CA to walk back any commitments they made to funding SNAP, residents of CA were able to wake up to a full electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card on November 1. Although the government reopened after its shutdown on November 12, and federal judges ordered benefits to be restored, many people have criticized the absence of responsibility on the federal government’s behalf, which has forced states to manage issues on their own.

Alameda County, home to 175,000 SNAP recipients, was quick to mobilize funding. In a board meeting in October, board members approved $10 million of funding for food security. The Alameda Board of Supervisors used $16.5 million from the county’s Measure W Essential County Service Fund for food assistance. “Nobody should go hungry, especially our most vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, immigrants, and the medically frail. Shame on the Trump administration for their callous policies that are devastating our community,” Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas said. 

Local businesses in the Bay Area also offered resources for those who were left without SNAP benefits. Many restaurants allowed families with EBT cards to receive free or discounted meals, including Tony & Alba’s pizza in San Jose, Humbowl in Berkeley and San Rafael, and Al Pastor Papi in San Francisco. “For me, just coming from a low-income situation growing up, I know what it’s like,” Al Pastor Papi owner Miguel Escobedo said to ABC7.  

Local food banks also stepped up to help those in need of SNAP benefits. The Alameda County Community Food Bank offered its services and requested increased donations from the community. “Right off the bat with the government shutdown, and then subsequently the losses with SNAP, [there’s] just an overall fear that there’s not going to be enough food,” Livermore Open Heart Kitchen Executive Director John Bost said. “Folks that normally come to food pantries are coming more frequently and asking for more food.” However, even with help from CA and Alameda County, food banks still express concern for SNAP recipients. “A loss of government funding, there’s no way to replace that … We’re not solving problems. We’re putting band-aids on things,” Bost said. 

Despite threats against SNAP funding, leaders in CA, such as Governor Gavin Newsom, repeatedly affirmed their position to fight for national funding by taking legal action against the federal government. “California will continue fighting to ensure that our families can access the food they need and deserve … we will keep protecting Americans,” Gov. Newsom said.