Gov. McKee declares state of emergency as Rhode Island prepares for SNAP benefits freeze

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Governor Dan McKee announced Tuesday that he will declare a state of emergency to support those who receive federal food assistance as the state braces for a freeze in SNAP benefits.

The declaration will allow Rhode Island to provide emergency aid to residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

With the federal government shutdown ongoing, SNAP benefits are expected to freeze beginning November 1.

To ease the impact, the state is allotting $6 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to help SNAP households with children and dependents.

The roughly 65,000 eligible recipients will see deposits to their EBT cards totaling half of their typical monthly benefit. The first 25% on will hit November 1 and the other 25% on November 16.

However, another 80,000 Rhode Islanders who receive SNAP but do not have dependents will not receive additional funds. To assist them, McKee said the state will direct $200,000 in emergency funds to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, with the Rhode Island Foundation matching the donation.

The Rhode Island Foundation also announced plans to distribute $800,000 in grants to community organizations helping residents affected by the benefits disruption.

McKee said his administration continues to explore additional options for direct assistance to families.

More information about local food assistance and how to donate can be found at snapsupport.ri.gov.

The U.S. federal government shut down on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to approve annual spending bills or extend funding through a continuing resolution, resulting in one of the longest funding gaps in recent history. The ongoing deadlock between Republicans and Democrats centers on disagreements over health care subsidies, foreign aid, and overall federal spending priorities. The shutdown has left approximately 750,000 federal employees furloughed and millions more working without pay, while essential programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) face potential funding shortages that could disrupt benefits for millions of Americans.