Guam Legislature approves up to $13.1 million to temporarily fund SNAP and WIC during federal shutdown

The Guam Legislature on Oct. 24 approved an emergency appropriation of up to $13,100,000 from fiscal year 2025 net unobligated excess revenue to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits for November 2025, after testimony from Department of Public Health and Social Services officials that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had paused benefit releases amid a federal government shutdown.

Public-health officials told the Committee of the Whole that USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service sent notice on Oct. 10 instructing states and territories to pause November benefit releases. "On October 10, we received notification from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service that instructed all state and territories to pause on the release of November benefits," said Francine Salas, chief human services administrator, division of public welfare, DPHSS, during the committee hearing.

The appropriation was amended in committee to allow “up to $13,100,000” — $12.3 million estimated for SNAP and an additional $800,000 estimated for WIC — and to require that federal funds be used first if a continuing resolution or final federal appropriation is enacted. The bill passed the floor roll call with 13 yays and two excused and was placed in the…