Seoul, South Korea — In a message from far beyond state lines, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, backed by a coalition of state officials, urged the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday to deploy contingency funds and ensure uninterrupted food support for more than 757,000 Oregonians amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Governor is currently in South Korea on a trade-related trip.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, the Oregon leaders pressed the USDA to act promptly so that November benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can be issued on time and in full. The state emphasised that among the beneficiaries are about 210,000 children and 130,000 older adults.
“The ongoing federal shutdown has created unacceptable uncertainty for families, children, older adults, and communities across Oregon,” the letter states. “Hunger should never be a consequence of political stalemate. USDA must act swiftly to ensure that families have access to food and that benefits are delivered without delay.”
It continues:
“Failing to use these contingency resources to prevent widespread food insecurity would represent a dereliction of USDA’s fundamental duty to serve the American people. Ensuring that families have access to food is not optional — it is a core function of the Department and an essential component of national stability and well-being.”
The letter drawn up by the governor’s office also notes the economic ripple effect a benefits disruption could trigger—particularly in rural communities where SNAP spending supports grocery stores, small businesses and agricultural producers.
The Political Standoff
The appeal from Oregon comes against the backdrop of a broader federal impasse. The government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now among the longest in U.S. history.
From the Republican side, officials contend the priority is reopening the government first, then tackling policy debates such as healthcare and social programs separately. In public guidance, USDA noted that the roughly $5 billion contingency fund for SNAP is reserved for emergencies such as natural disasters and argued it is not “legally available to cover regular benefits” in a shutdown scenario.
Some political voices have accused House Democrats of leveraging shutdown negotiations to secure healthcare policy concessions — an assertion the Democrats reject. Meanwhile, critics say the decision not to access the contingency funds amounts to a choice to let assistance lapse, rather than a legal necessity.
On Sept. 30, 2025, the Senate vote on the Republican‐led “clean” funding bill failed without reaching the 60‐vote threshold. Only three Democratic senators crossed party lines to support it.
What It Means for Oregon
In Oregon, the stakes are clear: more than 1 in 6 households rely on SNAP to afford groceries. According to state estimates, every dollar of SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity, contributing roughly $1.6 billion annually to the state’s economy.
With the letter, Governor Kotek joined with other state Democrats, including Secretary of State Tobias Read, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson, Senate President Rob Wagner, House Speaker Julie Fahey, along with Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, and budget co-chairs Senator Kate Lieber and Representative Tawna Sanchez. They wrote: “We urge USDA to use these contingency funds … and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance.”
Broader National Impact
Nationally, Democrats in the House have pressed the USDA and White House to draw down the contingency reserve to fund benefits for November. Over 200 Democratic representatives sent their own letter saying the USDA “should use its $5 billion emergency contingency reserve to fund November food benefits.”
On the other side, Republicans maintain that opening the government must be the first step. A USDA memo argues the contingency funds were never appropriated for regular benefit issuance—and therefore cannot legally cover the November cycle.
Facing mounting pressure, both sides are focusing on how hungry households, rural businesses, and tens of millions of Americans might fare if benefits stop. For Oregon’s 757,000 SNAP participants, the potential lapse is more than an abstract policy dispute — it could mean an immediate gap in food support for children, seniors and working-families.
Moving Forward
As Governor Kotek’s letter underscores, states are bracing for the consequences of a stalled federal government funding process. Whether the USDA will act in response—or whether Congress will reach a resolution to reopen the government first—remains uncertain.
Until then, state leaders are calling on the federal agency to act unilaterally to prevent families from going hungry, even as Republicans and Democrats continue to argue over the sequence and conditions of reopening the government and funding its social-safety network.
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