SNAP Suspension Hits 495K Nevadans: Senate 5 Dem Votes Short of Funding Bill; 25 States Sue USDA, Trump Pledges Court-Approved Relief, Lombardo Approves $38.8M Reserves
Approximately 495,000 Nevadans, about one in six residents, are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits remain suspended nationwide, until Congress restores funding. The House-passed continuing resolution (CR) has failed cloture 13 times in the Senate, falling five Democrat votes short to advance. Nevada’s Democrat senators are split: Senator Cortez Masto (D) has voted yes for the CR in all Senate votes, supporting immediate reopening without policy riders. Senator Rosen (D) has voted no on each of those votes, aligning with most Democrats to force the government shutdown. With no resolution in sight and federal rules barring states from funding SNAP directly, Nevada officials are reallocating reserves to support food banks.
Governor Lombardo (R) authorized $38.8 million from state reserves under the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan to support food banks and emergency distributions amid the federal shutdown's impact on SNAP. His administration is coordinating with the Nevada National Guard for logistics if needed and plans a special legislative session in November to address any ongoing funding shortfalls.
Nevada Representatives Horsford (D), Titus (D), and Lee (D) urged Gov. Lombardo (R) to use unspent American Rescue Plan funds for SNAP relief. Meanwhile, State Treasurer Conine (D) pushed to tap the Rainy Day Fund but warned that creating a USDA-compliant alternative would take months due to federal rules requiring a separate funding mechanism.
Back in Washington, D.C., Sen. Rosen (D), who has voted against every continuing resolution to restore federal funding, now demands that the government tap SNAP contingency reserves. The USDA maintains that its $6 billion in such reserves cannot fund regular November benefits, citing the lack of a budget appropriation during a government shutdown. Nevada AG Ford (D) has joined 25 other states in suing the USDA, alleging the suspension is unlawful. A Massachusetts federal judge ordered partial SNAP payments using reserves, while a Rhode Island judge issued a conflicting ruling. President Trump (R) directed White House lawyers to seek immediate court clarification due to the conflicting federal rulings. He pledged to fund the program immediately if given the appropriate legal direction and urged SNAP users to call Senate Democrats to demand the government reopen.
Prior to the federal shutdown, Nevada’s Interim Finance Committee projected a $19 million state budget shortfall for SNAP in fiscal year 2026. The gap stems from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill, which introduced stricter work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, expanded fraud detection measures, and tightened eligibility to reduce improper payments and ensure benefits reach only those in need. Read more at the following article: SNAP Shortfall Looms: Nevada Debates Food Aid Future.
