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Food assistance

Arizona Leaders Urge Trump Administration to Release Contingency Fund for SNAP Benefits

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and prominent Democrats are calling out the Trump administration for failing to release a $6 billion contingency fund to continue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to over 923,000 Arizonans and 42 million Americans. The Trump administration has reversed course on using the contingency fund to continue November SNAP payments during the ongoing government shutdown, putting millions at risk of hunger.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration is considering cutting off SNAP benefits to over 923,000 Arizonans and 42 million Americans, which would have "dire consequences" on families, particularly those with children, older or disabled adults, and working families.
  • SNAP provides food assistance to around 923,400 Arizonans, with over 68% of recipients in families with children, nearly 29% in families with older or disabled adults, and 40% in working families.
  • Governor Katie Hobbs has sent a letter to Brooke Rollins, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, urging her to release the contingency funds and prevent a lapse in grocery assistance.
  • U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, along with 44 Senate Democrats, have signed a letter to push Rollins to use the SNAP contingency fund for its intended purpose.
  • The federal government has been shut down since October 1, with Democrats refusing to vote for Republicans' stopgap funding bill unless they agreed to extend popular health care tax credits.
  • Republicans control the presidency, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate, but need votes from Democrats to clear a 60-vote threshold to reopen the government.
  • Arizona state Rep. Walt Blackman has called on Governor Hobbs to push Senators Kelly and Gallego to vote to reopen the federal government and "stop the harm they are inflicting on Arizona families."

Statistics:

  • Over 923,000 Arizonans rely on SNAP benefits, around 12% of the state's population.
  • SNAP recipients in Arizona include:

+ 68% in families with children

+ 29% in families with older or disabled adults

+ 40% in working families

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that SNAP provides food assistance to around 42 million Americans nationwide.
  • The government shutdown has lasted since October 1, with no clear end in sight.

Sources:

  • https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/snap_factsheet_arizona.pdf
  • https://azmirror.com/2025/10/16/arizona-lost-nearly-2-million-pounds-of-food-aid-to-trump-cuts-leaving-food-banks-scrambling/
  • https://www.kelly.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/letter_to_release_funding_to_continue_snap_into_november.pdf
  • https://azmirror.com/2025/10/03/repub/vast-majority-of-americans-including-trump-supporters-want-health-care-tax-credits-extended/

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