Thursday, November 13, 2025

Federal Government Shutdown Ends, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits to Resume

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

More than 17,000 Pasadena residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistance will soon find some relief.

The federal government shutdown ended Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed a funding package to reopen agencies, clearing the way for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that did not go out in early November to be released as federal systems come back online.

For Pasadena, where roughly 11% of households rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and food insecurity remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, the shutdown intensified pressure on already stretched local resources. In the two weeks since the benefits failed to load, Pasadena food pantries reported some of their heaviest demand since early 2021.

According to Pasadena officials, the Friends In Deed Food Pantry, Foothill Unity Center, Salvation Army Pasadena Corps, and Lake Avenue Church’s pantry program all saw sharp increases in walk-ins and emergency requests.

The House voted 222–209 Wednesday to approve the deal to reopen the federal government after a record 43-day shutdown. The Senate passed the compromise Tuesday, and the White House finalized it hours later. The package funds key agencies through January and fully restores U.S. Department of Agriculture food and nutrition programs through the remainder of fiscal year 2026.

In Pasadena, elected officials have been monitoring food needs since early November. Several Councilmembers urged residents to support local food-aid groups, and multiple nonprofit leaders said the community stepped up with donations of both cash and groceries.

With the government now reopened, state agencies administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including California’s Department of Social Services, are expected to begin processing the delayed payments as soon as federal systems stabilize. Benefits could reach Pasadena households as early as next week.

Local organizations say they expect demand to remain high until residents confirm the November allotments have been deposited.