As the federal government shutdown continues, state data shows that the nearly 700,000 Tennesseans who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to get food on the table each month will not receive benefits until the Senate approves reopening the government. The House has already voted to reopen the government, but the Senate requires 60 votes to pass the necessary resolution. Republicans have repeatedly voted to reopen the government, but without Democratic votes, the shutdown will continue.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has said the state will not use any of its over $2 billion “Rainy Day Fund” to pay out SNAP benefits in November. The federally-run program won’t be offering benefits next month if the federal government stays shutdown. Democrats claim that Republicans have long wanted to reduce or eliminate SNAP benefits.
Elizabeth Lane Johnson, Gov. Bill Lee’s director of communications, issued a statement from the Governor on the issue. Lee puts the blame squarely on Democrats in Washington.
“Congress has a responsibility to fund the federal government, and as Governor Lee has said, it’s disappointing that Democrats have chosen not to reopen it,” Johnson noted. “The Governor shares the frustration of Tennesseans who will be impacted by this temporary lapse, and sincerely hopes Democrats will choose to put the American people ahead of politics.”
Johnson also pointed out that the only option for funding SNAP is with federal dollars.
“While the Lee administration continues working with federal agencies to mitigate the impact of a shutdown on hardworking Tennesseans, SNAP is federally funded, and without those federal dollars, the state cannot provide the benefits,” Johnson said.
On average, it costs around $145 million a month to cover Tennessee’s SNAP benefits. That’s about 7% of the state’s estimated 2,150,000,000 reserve dollars, as listed in Tennessee’s 2025-2026 budget.
Churches, non-profits and food banks are expecting a heavy surge in demand if the shutdown continues into November.
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
