Wisconsin FoodShare Program to Run Out of Funding in 10 Days

November Food Assistance for Wisconsin Kids, Families, and Seniors in Jeopardy Due to Federal Government Shutdown

Gov. Evers Calls on Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to End Federal Shutdown, Prevent Nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites from Losing Access to Basic Food Necessities

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that, due to the federal government shutdown in Washington, D.C., Wisconsin’s FoodShare program, which provides food assistance to hungry kids, families, and seniors, will run out of funding in 10 days. The Trump Administration recently notified Wisconsin that “there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation” and “direct[ed] States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT vendors until further notice.” Based on the Trump Administration’s directive, FoodShare, which is 100 percent funded by the federal government, is now in jeopardy due to the federal government shutdown and may not be available at all next month if the federal government shutdown continues, leaving nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites without access to basic food and groceries. The Evers Administration continues to closely monitor funding levels for WIC, a separate food assistance program designed to support women, babies, and kids, which remains available for qualifying Wisconsinites at this time.

The governor’s announcement today comes as the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress enter Day 21 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.

“With rising costs and President Trump’s chaotic trade wars, Wisconsin families are already struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table, and every day that Republicans continue this reckless and harmful shutdown is another day that our kids, families, farmers, veterans, seniors, and communities fall even further behind. There’s no excuse for it. None,” said Gov. Evers. “No person should ever go hungry—most especially not in the United States of America. President Trump and Republicans in Congress must work across the aisle and end this shutdown now so Wisconsinites and Americans across our country have access to basic necessities like food and groceries that they need to survive.”

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.

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.

The Evers Administration today released the below information current as of this release today, Oct. 21, 2025, relating to the federal government shutdown’s impacts on Wisconsin FoodShare benefits.

FoodShare Remains Funded Through October
The FoodShare program is fully funded through the month of October. The federal government provides monthly funding for FoodShare benefits directly to the fiscal vendor that manages Wisconsin’s QUEST cards – electronic benefit cards members use to pay for groceries using FoodShare benefits. The federal government provided October benefits to Wisconsin’s FoodShare vendor on schedule.

FoodShare Payments Stopped Until After Federal Shutdown Ends
The Trump Administration has indicated that there is not enough funding to provide another month of food benefits. As FoodShare benefits are 100 percent funded by the federal government, Wisconsin FoodShare members will not resume receiving benefits until after the federal government shutdown ends. This means that if the shutdown continues, at this time, FoodShare members will not get their monthly benefits in November, and even if the shutdown ends tomorrow, for example, November benefits will be delayed. After the shutdown ends and there is federal funding for FoodShare again, the Department of Health Services will work with the federal government as quickly as possible to resume issuing benefits.

“It’s important for members to know FoodShare benefits may not be available on QUEST cards to make purchases in November. This may include any funds remaining on your card at the end of October,” said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “Members who have benefits on their cards may want to stock up on food items that don’t go bad—canned goods, boxed items, with their benefits before the end of October.”

DHS is mailing FoodShare members letters this week to notify them of the delay in benefits. These letters are also available electronically in ACCESS. DHS will continue to update the FoodShare: News and Updates webpage to share the latest information available.

DHS will directly notify FoodShare members once the shutdown ends and funding is available about when they will resume receiving benefits. Whenever DHS has more information about the effects of the shutdown on our programs, the department will share through the DHS website, emails, social media, and other channels.

WIC Remains Available
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.