On October 1, 2025, the United States federal government shut down. The shutdown occurred because Congress could not agree on a new budget or continuing resolution to keep government operations running smoothly. The shutdown meant that supplementary government services were stopped, leading to federal employees being sent home from work without any pay, and many public services facing disruptions.
This directly impacted SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which works to provide food to low income families. This disruption was in effect for almost 50 days.
11th-grade English teacher Ms. Whang believes the SNAP pause is a harmful decision that takes support away from people who really need it.
“Obviously it’s one of the worst things a federal government can do. It’s a way of support and a lot of programs have been terminated. Times are already tough, they are taking stuff away from the people that need it.”
She feels it makes already tough times even harder. State agencies and local groups are rushing to help, but many food banks and stores say they’re already feeling the tension. Schools are also at possible risk of facing food insecurity and strains on meal programs.
Here at HSTAT, the National Honor Society (NHS) was in the midst of a school-wide food drive that takes place during second-period classes, where students are asked to bring in non-perishable items to be collected where students are asked to bring in non-perishable items to be collected.
“The food drive is especially important because it responds directly to the needs of our own community. Many of our students and families rely on this essential support, and without it the reality can be frightening. At HSTAT, our students are at the center of everything we do, and we know that when their basic needs are not met, learning becomes almost impossible. If our students are hungry, success will not be achieved,” National Honor Society Advisor Mr. Alhaj said.
“Food banks and community centers have been overwhelmed since this announcement, with volunteers struggling to meet the surge in demand,” said Gabby Townsend, a senior at HSTAT.
“Many students come to school hungry, and the cafeteria plays a big role in helping them get the meals they need. That’s why our school’s food drive is especially important right now. It provides crucial support during these tough times. When it comes to the current SNAP situation, I feel it’s wrong, since so many Americans depend on these benefits to get by.”
The pause in SNAP benefits left many families worried about their next meal. But many communities are stepped up to help, from school food drives to local volunteers, showing that even when programs fail, people still care and help each other out during these rough times.
