The loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is a looming threat that has haunted countless families across Pueblo and the nation during times of political gridlock. Now, with the federal government in its 28th day of a shutdown, the fear has intensified. Many worry that essential food benefits could disappear at any moment as Congress remains stalled on a funding agreement. But despite the uncertainty, the end of SNAP is not inevitable. The USDA’s own Lapse of Funding Plan outlines a roadmap that, if followed, allows nutrition assistance to continue even during a prolonged shutdown.

Alarming headlines and political soundbites have ignited fears that thousands in Southern Colorado could lose their SNAP benefits before Thanksgiving. For families facing hunger and nonprofits struggling to meet growing demand, the warnings feel urgent and all too plausible. But a closer look at federal planning tells a different and more hopeful story. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s contingency plan suggests that SNAP can remain operational even during a federal shutdown.

Earlier this fall, the USDA released its September 2025 “Lapse in Appropriations Contingency Plan.” The document is clear. While some federal services may be paused, nutrition assistance remains a priority. The plan states that SNAP will continue “for as long as funding permits,” using available resources to ensure ongoing benefits and support for eligible families. It is not a promise of uninterrupted assistance, but it is a deliberate commitment to keeping families fed for weeks into a shutdown, not hours.

Mixed messages have added to the confusion. Some Republican lawmakers have said publicly that there is no contingency plan for SNAP during a shutdown, emphasizing that federal agencies cannot spend money without congressional approval and that SNAP relies on annual appropriations. At the same time, USDA officials have been cautious in their statements about long-term funding, highlighting what they cannot guarantee rather than referencing past precedent. This creates a communication gap. Lawmakers focus on legal boundaries, the USDA underscores its operational limits, and neither message clearly explains that contingency options do exist, have been used before, and are outlined in the agency’s own Lapse of Funding Plan. This gap leaves families with the impression that support could disappear instantly, even though historical precedent shows that short-term funding workarounds can and have been deployed.

There is precedent for this. During previous shutdowns, the USDA relied on contingency reserves and unspent appropriations to continue issuing SNAP benefits. In Colorado and other states, agencies were directed to process February benefits ahead of schedule during the 2018 to 2019 shutdown, a move that helped shield families from the worst disruptions. The lesson is simple. Creative management by state and federal agencies can prevent an immediate collapse of the safety net.

For Pueblo, these details matter. More than one in eight residents rely on SNAP to put food on the table, and local food pantries are already stretched thin. Fear is understandable, but leadership requires grounding those fears in facts. Public officials should focus on ensuring that the USDA’s contingency plans are fully implemented, while communicating clearly with families about the actual risks and potential solutions.

The loss of SNAP benefits is a political choice, not an unavoidable outcome. The federal government has the tools to prevent a crisis. The plan is written, and the priorities are clear. As Pueblo faces uncertain days, we must demand that leaders use every resource available to protect our neighbors from hunger. Congress may waver, but our conviction should not.

If the safety net frays, let it be from neglect, not inevitability. This is a solvable problem, and everyone in Pueblo should know it.

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