Governor Kehoe Provides Update on Federal Government Shutdown Impact on Missourians 

OCTOBER 23, 2025

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe provided an update on the serious implications of the Democrat-led federal government shutdown on Missouri state agencies and federal programs, which will soon impact even more Missouri families.

“Senate Democrats are holding the federal government hostage, and even more Missouri families may soon be paying the price for their political grandstanding,” said Governor Kehoe. “We appreciate our Republican congressional delegation for doing their part to put the livelihoods of Americans first, and we urge Democrat Senators to do what's right and reopen the federal government.”

Missouri Department of Social Services Unable to Issue November SNAP Benefits Due to Federal Shutdown

Earlier this week, the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced that, due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) has informed state agencies that November 2025 SNAP benefits cannot be issued.

SNAP benefits are 100 percent federally funded, with each recipient receiving benefits from the federal government via their Electronic Benefit Transfer card. There is no mechanism for state appropriations to be transferred to cover this funding.

“There is still time for Democrats to come to the table, so Missouri's most vulnerable families will have food on their tables next month,” said Governor Kehoe. “More than 667,000 Missourians are at risk of losing SNAP benefits because Democrats in Washington would rather fight President Trump than reopen the federal government. The State of Missouri has no avenue to covering these funds for the over 326,000 households who may be affected. Our Department of Social Services team stands ready to issue November funds as soon as possible once the federal government is reopened.”

DSS encourages Missourians who may be affected to:

  • Look at the potential of using their October balance to stretch into November if possible given this situation.
  • Review available local food resources, such as food banks and pantries.

In addition to the impact on SNAP benefits, Governor Kehoe and his team continue to monitor impacts to Missouri WIC, which is also federally funded through USDA and administered through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. There are approximately 98,000 WIC recipients in Missouri who rely on the program for nutritional support for themselves and their children.

Additional Impacts on Missouri

The federal government shutdown has impacted Missouri families, small businesses, veterans, and workers across the state—leaving federal workers and servicemembers unpaid and key services unfunded.

  • In Missouri, there are approximately 56,000 federal workers who may not receive a paycheck this Friday.
  • Small Business Administration loan distributions are frozen during the federal government shutdown. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over $15 million in loan assistance is blocked per week to small businesses in Missouri.
  • Missouri's Gross State Product is estimated to decline by approximately $232 million each week the shutdown extends, which could lead to an increase in unemployment of about 800 workers in Missouri under a one-month shutdown.

###