Governor Gavin Newsom has now announced that the federal government shutdown will likely delay food benefits soon for millions of Californians who rely on CalFresh cards to feed themselves and their families. If President Trump and Congress do not reopen the federal government by October 23, or take action to fund benefits, CalFresh benefits will likely be delayed in November, according to an official announcement from the Governor’s Office.
On Monday, October 20, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued an official notice to all county welfare directors, CalFresh program specialists, CalWorks program specialists, consortia representatives, and quality control program coordinators, notifying them of the possible halt.
The notice stated, “On October 10, 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued a memo informing state agencies that currently available federal funds will not be sufficient to pay full November 2025 SNAP benefits nationwide, including to the approximately 5.5 million Californians who currently receive SNAP benefits. Each month California issues approximately $1.1 billion in federal CalFresh benefits to eligible Californians.”
Recipients of those crucial food benefits will begin to be notified as early as this week about the potential delay. In addition to the federally funded CalFresh benefits, some state funded food benefits will also be impacted.
The federal government has directed states to hold November 2025 benefit data that would normally allow CalFresh funds to be allocated to persons with CalFresh benefit cards. This impact is immediate and is first affecting persons newly enrolling in CalFresh during the second half of October, and then all enrollees if the federal government shutdown lasts longer than October 23, according to the governor’s announcement.
This potentially devastating delay comes as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, likely meaning many Californians and their families could go hungry during the holidays, and putting further stress on local food banks. In California, 63.2% of SNAP participants are children or elderly.
“Trump’s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people’s lives and making basic needs like food more expensive, just as the holidays arrive,” Governor Newsom stated. “It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, stand up to Trump, and deliver for the American people.”
October 2025 and prior months’ CalFresh benefits are not impacted, according to the CDSS memo. “Ongoing CalFresh households have received their October benefits as usual, according to normal issuance timelines between the 1st and 10th of the month,” the memo stated. “Households who applied for CalFresh in October and are determined newly eligible for October 2025 benefits also will receive their October 2025 benefits.”
The memo strongly suggests that those who need food now should contact their local food bank. The Alameda Food Bank (AFB) is now located at 677 West Ranger Avenue. Information about getting groceries from AFB is available on their Get Food webpage.
For more information on CalFresh benefits and impacts from the federal shutdown ,visit the CDSS website. Recipients can also check their balance by calling the number on the back of their EBT card.
At this time, CalWORKs benefits for the month of November 2025 are not impacted. However, the longer the federal government shutdown lasts, the more likely it becomes that additional programs will be affected.
