Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Monday that she cannot confirm whether federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments will go out this week and urged the White House to release contingency funds set aside for shutdowns so states can continue benefit disbursements.

"I don't know, Margaret, because the president hasn't said whether he's going to approve the release of those contingency funds," Healey said on Face the Nation. She called the impact "devastating," noting about one in seven Massachusetts residents use SNAP.

Healey said Massachusetts joined a 28-state lawsuit seeking release of the contingency funds and praised state attorneys general for a favorable ruling that, she said, "basically tells the president, do what you're supposed to do, which is use the contingency funds that have been set aside for exactly this purpose." She urged the administration to act "immediately."

The governor described steps her administration and community groups have taken while federal action remains uncertain: advancing funding to food pantries and establishing a United Way fund that she said has drawn roughly $3,000,000 in contributions and volunteers. "This is not sustainable," she said, adding that, if funds are released, it still takes "anywhere between 2 and 5 days" to load benefits onto recipients' cards.

Healey disputed a partisan characterization of SNAP beneficiaries. After the program's suspension President Trump said in a clip played on the show, "All they have to do is say the government is open and that's the end of it... largely Democrats. They're hurting their own people." In response, Healey said that comment was "insulting" and noted SNAP recipients include veterans, seniors, children and people with disabilities; she said Massachusetts has about 21,000 veterans who receive SNAP.

A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered full SNAP payments by Monday or partial payments by Wednesday, the hosts reported; Healey said she hoped the administration would comply. The host also noted that a Treasury official had said restarting payments "could be" an option. Healey cautioned that logistical steps would delay immediate receipt: even if funds were released within days, most beneficiaries would not see funds the next day.

Healey also connected the shutdown to other federal impacts, saying Head Start funding and health insurance subsidies are affected and warning that some families could face large premium increases. She called on congressional leaders to return to Washington and negotiate a funding bill so the federal government reopens.

Healey closed by reiterating the moral case: "People in this country should not go hungry," and said states are stepping in to protect residents while urging a prompt federal remedy.