Councilors urge planning for possible WIC/SNAP disruptions and food-bank impacts if federal shutdown continues

Council members asked staff to coordinate with county partners, public-health officials and nonprofit food providers about contingency planning after several councilmembers warned the federal government shutdown could interrupt WIC and SNAP benefits and federally supplied food to local food banks.

Council Member Cooper said reports indicated WIC and, possibly, SNAP benefits might be interrupted if a federal shutdown continues past Nov. 1. “If we go past Nov. 1, we may not see WIC benefits and maybe not SNAP benefits,” Cooper said. She urged an urgent cities-and-public-health conversation about contingency options.

Council members noted other federal food-supply programs that purchase and distribute commodities to food banks can be affected during a shutdown, reducing the amount of food available to local distributors. Council Member Madrone said the food bank had warned of a 20–25% reduction in food it receives from federal sources even before any shutdown-related cuts, which could compound shortages.

Members discussed possible next steps including convening county public-health and food-system partners, alerting food banks and social-service providers, and considering emergency meeting formats so the city and partners could coordinate responses quickly if federal aid is interrupted. City Manager Jay Birney and staff said they would follow up with county partners and evaluate whether a dedicated study or emergency session is needed.

No formal council action was taken at the Oct. 21 meeting; council members requested staff coordination and more information on contingency plans and stakeholder engagement.