Amid a looming federal government shutdown and ongoing legal battles, Montana communities are scrambling to address the potential halting of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Local governments and citizens are rallying to keep food on tables, with initiatives ranging from donations to food banks to handing out non-traditional treats like macaroni and cheese on Halloween.
Carolyn Dillon, president of Beaverhead Food Pantry, anticipates serving up to 180 families weekly if food aid is cut, up from the usual 130. Offers for food drives have poured in, moving her to tears. “I’ve just heard [people say] that, ‘We have to help the community, we have to help the community,’” Dillon said. The potential SNAP suspension could strip about 77,000 Montanans of crucial food benefits, reducing monthly budgets by hundreds of dollars.
A federal judge in Delaware ruled the Trump administration’s USDA should use emergency funding to continue SNAP for millions during the shutdown. However, government officials argue these funds are needed for natural disasters. As the shutdown persists, Republicans and Democrats clash over budget resolutions, specifically regarding health insurance subsidies.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has refused to use state funds to cover SNAP gaps, citing federal responsibility and lack of reimbursement assurance. “This is a federal program and we need the federal government to fund it,” Gianforte stated in an interview. His stance has drawn criticism from food assistance advocates and the Montana Food Bank Network, which has launched a campaign urging the governor to reconsider.
Other states’ governors, both Republican and Democrat, have pledged to fill SNAP funding gaps. Community efforts in Montana include food drives organized in Dillon and resource coordination by pastors in Glendive. In Great Falls, St. Vincent de Paul is working to extend food supplies for its community kitchen and Angel Room.
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council authorized the culling of buffalo to maintain food access, declaring a state of emergency to secure additional funding for food aid. National tribal leaders argue the SNAP disruptions breach treaty obligations and harm Native communities.
As the political standoff continues, Dillon prepares for various outcomes, ensuring that no one is turned away. “We’re preparing and we’ll be there for anybody who needs us,” she said. “I don’t turn anyone down. Whoever comes in gets fed.”
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