A federal judge in Massachusetts might order the federal government to tap emergency funds to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has called on Speaker Mike Johnson to reopen the House of Representatives to vote on a bill aimed at funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as millions of Americans face potential interruptions in benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP, or food stamps — is a key benefits program that serves more than 40 million people across the country. Now, the shutdown is threatening to suspend benefits, raising concerns over where millions of people who rely on the program will turn to for food.

With food-stamp funding set to lapse Saturday, recipients are asking what happens to their benefits — and when help might resume.

There is a legal dispute over whether emergency funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture can be used to pay for benefits.

If Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are disrupted, analysts say it could mean more pressure on the already shrinking number of small independent supermarkets.

SNAP benefits expected to lapse if the government shutdown continues, but Washington will send funds to help offset the need.

Instead of filling your Halloween bucket with just candy, include shelf-stable foods to help hungry neighbors.

As November looms, states are trying to sort what options they can offer beneficiaries to fill the gap in food assistance. Reporters from the NPR Network are covering the impact of this potential lapse in states across the country.

Newly released internal DHS tallies show 2,207 case escalations last week alone — most flooding the state's call center — with more than a third repeat complaints amid ongoing SNAP delays.