Oregonians worry about losing food help during U.S. government shutdown

(OCTOBER 25, 2025) Many people in Oregon are worried they will not get money for food next month. The U.S. government has shut down. It has been closed for more than three weeks. This means the SNAP program — also called food stamps — may stop sending payments in November.

About one in six Oregonians (around 750,000 people) use SNAP to help buy food. Many of these people are children, older adults, or people with disabilities.

Oregon's Governor is Tina Kotek. She said the money for SNAP will run out soon if the U.S. Congress does not do something. Both political parties (Democrats and Republicans) blame each other.

At food pantries in Portland and across the state, long lines are forming. Many people, like Nan Ahseln and Kodi Frasier, say they don’t know how they will feed their families without SNAP.

Food bank workers are worried. “You can’t just go without food,” said Scott Cooper, who runs a food program in Central Oregon.

The government shutdown could also hurt Oregon’s economy. Why? When people spend SNAP money at grocery stores, it helps many businesses.

At the same time, President Donald Trump helped Republicans to pass a new law. It is called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. It is making things harder. It cuts money for SNAP and adds new work rules. Many people — including veterans, immigrants, and people in rural areas — may lose their benefits.

Food banks say they are doing their best, but they cannot replace all the lost help. As one food bank leader said, “People will be hungry.”