Numerous SNAP recipients have taken to TikTok to voice their anger and threat of looting if food stamp payments are not distributed on November 1, due to the federal government shutdown. According to the New York Post, videos posted online show users expressing their outrage, with some stating their intention to take shopping carts full of groceries and leave stores without paying if their benefits are halted. About 42 million Americans depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides an average of $350 per household each month.
The controversy was fueled by the USDA’s announcement that, because of the persistent government shutdown, SNAP benefits would not be disbursed for November. This announcement followed a failed Senate vote to end the shutdown, and many SNAP recipients received text alerts warning them about the potential freezing of their payments. The situation led to an outpouring of emotional and sometimes threatening posts on TikTok, with users blaming the federal administration—particularly President Trump—for the disruption, despite Democrats voting to still keep the federal government closed.
According to The Post, one commenter warned on TikTok, “I’ma tell y’all straight up like this, I just got that text that the link is definitely cut the f–k off for November. Y’all better stay the f–k out of my way in these stores because I’m walking out with carts and I’m not paying for s–t.”
Another commenter shared, “You know what? Since they wanna take food stamps away, I’m gonna go to f–king Walmart, grab anything I damn want, put that s–t right in the basket and walk right up out that b—h … I’m not paying for a damn thing.”
For decades, SNAP has reliably issued payments even during previous shutdowns, sometimes distributing benefits early to avoid disruptions. However, this marks the first time in the program’s 60-year history that a complete interruption is anticipated. The USDA recently decided not to use $6 billion in contingency funds to keep the program running, despite legal action from 26 states like New York which is “seeking a temporary restraining order to force it to use contingency funds to keep the program solvent.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the situation, stating that “SNAP is one of our nation’s most effective tools to fight hunger, and the USDA has the money to keep it running. There is no excuse for this administration to abandon families who rely on SNAP, or food stamps, as a lifeline,” adding, “The federal government must do its job to protect families.”
According to The Post, “the Trump administration said earlier this month that it would divert revenue from tariffs to continue WIC and some other programs for women and children.”