This story was updated to show the state moved up the date it will begin matching cash donations to Iowa food banks to Saturday, Nov. 1 instead of Monday, Nov. 3.
—
The state will match cash donations to Iowa's six regional food banks starting Nov. 1 to help make up for the absence of funding for people who receive federal food assistance.
The federal government is withholding funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November because of the government shutdown. Food banks and pantries have warned that will cause an unprecedented spike in need during what’s typically their busiest month of the year. Around 270,000 individuals and 130,000 households in Iowa are enrolled in the program.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been meeting with the state’s six regional food banks to understand the impact of the funding pause. HHS will use existing state funds to match cash donations to the food banks up to $1 million.
The federal government distributes around $45 million per month to SNAP recipients in Iowa.
"I can't fund it,” Reynolds said. “There is no way that the state can take that up. So again, I just want to reiterate how important it is that the Schumer shutdown stops.”
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with other Democrats in Washington, D.C., are withholding support for a funding bill to try to force Republicans to back an extension for health care tax credits.
“It's ridiculous that they're putting Americans and Iowans' lives at risk,” Reynolds said. “It's ridiculous that we've got, what, millions of people that are going to be impacted nationwide.”
Reynolds is directing state agencies to recruit and deploy volunteers to help at food pantries and food banks, and she is ordering the Iowa National Guard to prepare for state active duty to conduct food distribution missions statewide.
Democratic leaders in the Iowa House and Senate criticized Reynolds' plan and said she should tap into other state coffers.
“The state has $107 million in earned interest from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund that the governor can use right now to cover the SNAP shortfall caused by the federal shutdown," said House Minority Leader Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines. "Families are already struggling to make ends meet, and this is a simple, realistic way to keep Iowans fed during this crisis.”
Meyer and Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, also called on Attorney General Brenna Bird to join a lawsuit backed by Democratic governors and attorneys general aimed at forcing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to provide SNAP funding.
Generosity may run short
Food access leaders in Johnson County said they're working tirelessly to provide food for people whose federal assistance is soon to run out.
Members of the Johnson County Food Access Network, a coalition of food pantries and food access advocates in the area, urged Congress to engage in good-faith efforts to reopen the government.
“SNAP is the largest source of food support for our neighbors facing hunger,” said Diane Platt, co-director of Iowa City Free Lunch Program. “For every dollar we provide through the Johnson County Food Access Network, SNAP delivers $9 in essential groceries.”
The $45 million in SNAP benefits to Iowans each month includes support for roughly 10,000 Johnson County residents.
“When that support disappears, families have nowhere to turn but food pantries and meal sites, many of which are already stretched to the breaking point,” Platt said. “We simply cannot replace $1.7 million monthly in lost food assistance in Johnson County with donated cans and boxes.”
Companies like Hy-Vee, Smithfield Foods and Bank of America have pledged donations to regional food banks, which purchase and distribute food. Even with those contributions and the state's pledge to match donations up to $1 million, the local food pantry leaders said it’s not enough to cover the gap created by a loss of federal SNAP funding.
“While we commend the commitment from the Governor’s Office to provide up to $1 million total to Iowa’s food banks, requiring a financial match to secure those funds adds an unnecessary hurdle that will only delay urgent support,” said John Boller, director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry. “This $1 million equates to [barely] 2% of SNAP funds statewide.”
A pair of federal judges ruled Friday that emergency funds must be used to support SNAP, but it’s not clear when the funds will be administered or whether they will be in the full amount.
In the meantime, the funding pause places additional pressures on local organizations whose leaders said they were already facing a tough November due to food assistance changes signed into law through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“This network exists because every partner on this table wants to make sure that our neighbors have access to routine food that they need and deserve," Boller said. “Collectively, we’re doing a lot to make that happen, even in the midst of an emergency.”
Emily Meister, director of engagement at United Way of Johnson and Washington counties, said United Way is launching a food access relief fund that would donate 100% of its proceeds to the Johnson County Food Access Network and is encouraging community members to help by making a financial contribution or by donating food items to United Way.
Educators warn of a hunger crisis
Iowa educators said the disruption in food assistance will cause a surge in hunger among children.
Joshua Brown is president of the Iowa State Education Association, which represents 50,000 educators. He said when students come to school hungry, their ability to learn disappears and behavioral issues increase.
“This partisan shutdown isn’t just cutting off a check, it is actively creating a learning gap that will follow these children [for] the rest of their lives, potentially hindering their future opportunities and contributions to society,” Brown said.
He called on Congress to end the shutdown, and he said the Trump administration should use other funding sources to pay for SNAP in the meantime.
Iowans in need of food can seek help from food pantries. Many schools have food pantries for students and their families.
