New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Thursday, pledging tens of millions in new funding to keep food on the table for millions of residents after the Trump administration moved to cut off federal food assistance to nearly three million New Yorkers beginning November 1.
The crisis stems from what Hochul called a “cruel and reckless” decision by federal officials to withhold billions in contingency funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — during the ongoing federal shutdown. For decades, states have relied on those emergency funds to sustain SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
“The Trump Administration is cutting food assistance off for three million New Yorkers, leaving our state to face an unprecedented public health crisis and hurting our grocers, bodegas and farmers along the way,” Hochul said in a statement. “Unlike Washington Republicans, I won’t sit idly by as families struggle to put food on the table.”
To counter the loss, Hochul announced $65 million in emergency state funding to reinforce food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens across New York. The money, she said, would help provide roughly 40 million meals statewide.
Her plan includes $40 million for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which distributes food and nutrition services through nearly 2,700 emergency providers. Another $25 million will go toward Nourish NY, a state program that purchases surplus produce, dairy, and meat from New York farmers to supply local pantries and shelters.
Hochul also ordered the Empire State Service Corps and SUNY Corps Members to deploy to local food banks, bolstering the volunteer workforce as demand surges. “We’re in a moment that calls for coordination and compassion,” she said.
The governor’s declaration follows a lawsuit New York and 24 other states filed this week against the Trump administration, demanding the release of emergency SNAP funds. The move marks the first time in U.S. history that federal food benefits have been frozen during a shutdown.
For families that rely on assistance, the impact is immediate and devastating. Roughly one in seven New Yorkers receives SNAP benefits — including children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities — amounting to $650 million in monthly support. “The federal government’s refusal to release emergency food assistance will have devastating consequences,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Access to nutritious food is a fundamental public health necessity.”
Hochul’s emergency measures are meant to cushion the blow, but even her administration acknowledges that state governments can’t replace federal food programs. “No state can fully backfill SNAP,” said Barbara C. Guinn, commissioner of the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. “This decision shows a complete lack of understanding of the economic realities facing millions of Americans.”
Democrats across the state rallied behind Hochul’s move, framing it as both a moral and economic issue. “Their latest attempt to rip food out of the mouths of children, seniors and veterans is a disgusting dereliction of duty,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, calling on Republicans in Congress to “stop playing games with people’s lives.”
New York’s food banks, meanwhile, are already overwhelmed. The Food Bank for New York City reported serving record-breaking numbers in anticipation of the cuts. “We are incredibly grateful for the Governor’s leadership,” said CEO Leslie Gordon. “Her support allows us to continue to meet the growing need and serve every neighbor with dignity.”
