Iowa SNAP recipients face uncertainty as shutdown drags on

SNAP delays could overwhelm Iowa food banks, Gov. Reynolds warns

Governor Kim Reynolds is calling on Congressional Democrats to reopen the federal government, warning that SNAP benefits for thousands of Iowans could be delayed if the shutdown continues past Nov. 1.

SNAP delays could overwhelm Iowa food banks, Gov. Reynolds warns

Governor Kim Reynolds is calling on Congressional Democrats to reopen the federal government, warning that SNAP benefits for thousands of Iowans could be delayed if the shutdown continues past Nov. 1.

BUT REPUBLICANS OBJECTED. IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES. THOUSANDS OF IOWA FAMILIES COULD LOSE HELP PAYING FOR GROCERIES IF CENTRAL IOWA FOOD PANTRIES ARE BRACING FOR THE WORST. ��vlog CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER SHOWS US HOW THEY ARE PREPARING FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED SPIKE IN NEED. AMANDA. STACY AND BEN. UNPRECEDENTED IS RIGHT. FOOD BANKS SAY THIS IS A SITUATION THAT THEY’VE NEVER HAD TO PREPARE FOR. FUNDING FOR SNAP BENEFITS, ALSO KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS, IS SET TO RUN OUT BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THAT WOULD LEAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IOWANS WITHOUT THE HELP THEY RELY ON TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS SNAP, HELPS MORE THAN 130,000 IOWA HOUSEHOLDS BUY GROCERIES EACH MONTH. BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T REOPEN, IOWANS WON’T BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR BENEFITS STARTING IN NOVEMBER. LOCAL NONPROFIT GROUPS SAY THIS WILL HIT LOW INCOME IOWANS HARD. WHO WILL FEEL THE IMPACT FOR MONTHS TO COME. FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE ARE BRACING FOR WHAT COULD BE AN OVERWHELMING SURGE IN NEED. THEY SAY NOVEMBER IS ALREADY THEIR BUSIEST MONTH, AND IF IOWANS LOSE THEIR SNAP BENEFITS, THEY SAY LOCAL DONATIONS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO FILL THE GAP. FOR POLK COUNTY, IT MEANS ABOUT 50,000 PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THESE BENEFITS WILL NOT RECEIVE THEM. THAT’S ABOUT 1 IN 10 NEIGHBORS. HALF OF THOSE ARE CHILDREN OR OLDER ADULTS. IT ALSO MEANS THAT ABOUT $9 MILLION A MONTH IN LOST GROCERY SALES FOR OUR GROCERY, LOCAL GROCERY RETAILERS. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS IS ALSO PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DELAYED SNAP BENEFITS. SHE SAYS SHE’S DIRECTED THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND REVIEW IOWA’S COVID ERA FOOD RESPONSE. LIVE IN D

Updated: 7:46 PM CDT Oct 23, 2025

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SNAP delays could overwhelm Iowa food banks, Gov. Reynolds warns

Updated: 7:46 PM CDT Oct 23, 2025

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is urging Democrats to reopen the federal government, warning that the ongoing shutdown could delay SNAP benefits for thousands of Iowans if it continues past Nov. 1. Gov. Reynolds said Iowa cannot keep the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operational. Roughly 131,000 households in Iowa qualify for SNAP benefits. It costs a total of $45 million each month. The governor's office has directed Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to stay in touch with food banks and monitor their supplies. Reynolds also wants to review the state's COVID-19-era food insecurity plan to prepare for any shortcomings in Iowa's capacity to feed those in need. With more than 50,000 people in Polk County at risk of losing their SNAP benefits next month, local food pantries are preparing for the worst. "I want to be really clear that nonprofits cannot replace SNAP benefits," said Kathy Underhill, chief executive officer of the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). "Nov. is always the busiest month in the food bank and food pantry worlds, and if SNAP benefits do not go out on time in Nov., the capacity of food banks and food pantries will be pushed to their very limits."The need for food pantries in Iowa has remained at a record high since the end of the pandemic. DMARC said it helped nearly 30,000 people in Nov. 2024, marking a monthly record in the pantry's 50-year history.This week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley told ��vlog there are some things Republicans in Washington, D.C. would be willing to compromise on, but he said Democrats have to support the government funding bill first. "We're not going to reach agreement or sit down at the table to finalize those compromises until we open up the government," Grassley said. "We shouldn't have to reach compromise under duress."» Subscribe to ��vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is urging Democrats to reopen the federal government, warning that the ongoing shutdown could delay SNAP benefits for thousands of Iowans if it continues past Nov. 1.

Gov. Reynolds said Iowa cannot keep the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operational. Roughly 131,000 households in Iowa qualify for SNAP benefits. It costs a total of $45 million each month.

The governor's office has directed Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to stay in touch with food banks and monitor their supplies. Reynolds also wants to review the state's COVID-19-era food insecurity plan to prepare for any shortcomings in Iowa's capacity to feed those in need.

With more than 50,000 people in Polk County at risk of losing their SNAP benefits next month, local food pantries are preparing for the worst.

"I want to be really clear that nonprofits cannot replace SNAP benefits," said Kathy Underhill, chief executive officer of the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). "Nov. is always the busiest month in the food bank and food pantry worlds, and if SNAP benefits do not go out on time in Nov., the capacity of food banks and food pantries will be pushed to their very limits."

The need for food pantries in Iowa has remained at a record high since the end of the pandemic. DMARC said it helped nearly 30,000 people in Nov. 2024, marking a monthly record in the pantry's 50-year history.

This week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley told ��vlog there are some things Republicans in Washington, D.C. would be willing to compromise on, but he said Democrats have to support the government funding bill first.

"We're not going to reach agreement or sit down at the table to finalize those compromises until we open up the government," Grassley said. "We shouldn't have to reach compromise under duress."

» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: |

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SNAP delays could overwhelm Iowa food banks, Gov. Reynolds warns

Governor Kim Reynolds is calling on Congressional Democrats to reopen the federal government, warning that SNAP benefits for thousands of Iowans could be delayed if the shutdown continues past Nov. 1.

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