Wisconsin FoodShare Program to Run Out of Funding in Three Days

Gov. Evers Fights Against Trump Administration Decision Not to Use Available Federal Funding to Extend Food Assistance

Without Trump Administration action, nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites relying on FoodShare will lose access to basic food necessities in three days

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers yesterday announced Wisconsin is joining a lawsuit fighting against the Trump Administration’s decision not to use available federal funding to extend food assistance into November, which will force nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on FoodShare to lose access to basic food necessities in just three days. In a lawsuit filed today, Wisconsin is joining a delegation of states fighting to require the Trump Administration to follow federal law—and its own past practice—by using billions of dollars in readily available federal funding to prevent millions of Americans from having to go hungry and losing access to food assistance due to the federal government shutdown.

“There’s federal funding the Trump Administration has available to help ensure millions of Americans, including nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, continue to have access to basic foods and groceries, but they’re refusing to use it—we cannot accept that. In three days, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, will lose access to basic food necessities due to the federal government shutdown unless the Trump Administration acts, and we’re taking them to court to force them to do so,” said Gov. Evers. “Our kids, families, farmers, seniors, and veterans should never be put in a position where they have to go hungry because of dysfunction in Washington. I’m again urging the Trump Administration to take swift and decisive action to extend SNAP benefits as long as eligible and readily available federal funding allows.”

Based on a recent Trump Administration directive, Wisconsin FoodShare, which is 100 percent funded by the federal government, is now in jeopardy and will end on November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. In response, Gov. Evers last week urged the Trump Administration to take swift and immediate steps to use billions of dollars in federal funding already available to extend food assistance into November, preventing Wisconsinites from losing access to basic goods and groceries in three days. In an October 22 letter to the Trump Administration, the governor urged the USDA to use powers already authorized under federal law to transfer existing and available federal funding to sustain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing lapse in appropriations, which would enable Wisconsin FoodShare to continue to provide benefits into the month of November and delay nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, from losing access to basic food and groceries. The next day, more than 40 U.S. Senators, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), also urged the USDA to release the billions of dollars at their disposal to continue the food assistance program.

In a memo reportedly from the USDA that has been publicly reported on in recent days, the Trump Administration indicated it would decline to use federal contingency funding and other resources available to continue providing food and groceries to millions of Americans who depend on the food assistance program to survive. The lawsuit filed today seeks to force the Trump Administration to use the billions of available federal funding—as they have similarly done previously—to ensure Wisconsinites and Americans across the country can continue to receive food assistance even as the federal government shutdown continues.

Gov. Evers’ announcement comes as the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress enter Day 28 of the federal government shutdown, largely over a refusal to negotiate on extending tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that ensure millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites, can afford the cost of their healthcare coverage. Republicans appear poised to allow the shutdown to continue even as 78 percent of Americans and nearly 60 percent of Republicans support extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

New data released by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance yesterday showed that healthcare coverage costs are expected to skyrocket for Wisconsinites if President Donald J. Trump and Republicans in Congress fail to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. Based on increased rates approved by the Trump Administration for the 2026 plan year, combined with the significant consequences of Congressional Republicans failing to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, many Wisconsinites will be priced out of being able to afford healthcare coverage. Many Wisconsinites will see healthcare coverage costs soar by hundreds or even thousands more dollars a month, with some seniors seeing an increase of over $30,000 per year.

A copy of the lawsuit filing is available here.

Gov. Evers encourages Wisconsinites across the state to contact their congressional representatives and urge support for ending the federal government shutdown, extending key programs that help lower healthcare costs, and preventing hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites from going hungry. Wisconsinites can go to www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member and enter their address to find the contact information for their congressional representative and senators.

Any Wisconsinite who needs additional food or infant formula for their house or family can reach out to 211 for information and referrals to local services. Anyone can use 211 to get help by:

• Dialing 211 or 877-947-2211.
• Visiting their website at 211wisconsin.communityos.org. Through the website, people can search for services or chat with someone online who can help.
• Texting their ZIP code to 898211.

DHS also encourages Medicaid and FoodShare members to make sure their phone number, email, and mailing address on file are up to date by going to the ACCESS.wi.gov website or the smartphone app. The department will announce some of the changes broadly, as appropriate, using channels like the Medicaid news webpage, FoodShare news webpage, social media, news releases, and email.

Importantly, please note that Wisconsin WIC is currently available, and based on the information available at this time, November benefits will also be available. During the government shutdown, WIC members can use their WIC benefits, attend WIC appointments, and do not need to take any action. If there are changes to the availability of WIC funding and benefits, DHS will let WIC members, partners, and providers know as soon as possible.

Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus members still have coverage to get the care and services they need. For updates, visit the Medicaid News page.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.