WATCH: Rep. Jim Costa Joins Central California Food Bank to Unite Valley Leaders Amid SNAP Funding Lapses

FRESNO, Calif. - Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), member of the House Agriculture Committee, partnered with Central California Food Bank to unite local Valley leaders and community organizations to sound the alarm on the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to withhold November SNAP funding during the ongoing government shutdown – despite having the authority to use $5 billion from the contingency fund. 

This decision would impact 42 million Americans nationwide. With nearly 30% of households in Congressman Costa’s district relying on SNAP, this decision threatens to leave hardworking Valley families without critical food assistance next month. As a result, veterans, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities could be left without support to meet their most basic needs. In CA-21 households, 60 percent include a child, 34 percent include an elderly person, and 46 percent include someone living with a disability. 

During the press conference, it was announced that Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered today that the Trump Administration “must distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the Nov. 1 payments to be made. The order came as another federal judge, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ruled that the Trump Administration must use emergency funds to partially pay for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown and gave the administration until Monday, November 3, 2025, to report back how it will provide at least partial benefits for November.  

In addition to this press conference, Congressman Costa has sponsored legislative efforts to help provide SNAP benefits for the month of November:  

• Sent a letter to Secretary Brooke Rollins, along with 214 Democratic colleagues, urging the Administration to release the funds needed to sustain SNAP benefits for November.
• Co-Sponsored the Feed Our Families Act, which would appropriate three months of funding into the SNAP reserve fund to ensure families aren’t left behind during this difficult time.