Agriculture Department officials said Friday they cannot use a contingency fund to continue paying the SNAP program, despite earlier shutdown guidance allowing its use.

With the government shutdown threatening to pause the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beginning next week, grocers fear their sales will decline while food banks anticipate a higher volume of people seeking food help.

Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley introduced a bill Wednesday that would reinstate funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP) as the government shutdown stretches into its third week.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York was facing soaring demand before the shutdown. Cuts to food stamps could push it to the limit.

With SNAP set to run out of money in Massachusetts next week due to the government shutdown, Gov. Healey announced new resources Friday.

Five Ohio representatives join more than 200 congressional Democrats calling for emergency measures as the federal shutdown threatens food assistance for 190,000 in Cuyahoga County and more than 1 million people across Ohio.

With the holidays fast approaching, and prices continuing to rise, SNAP recipients could be in for an especially difficult November as program funding ceases.