The potential SNAP benefit delay could increase growing hunger crisis in Texas, a state which has the highest population of food insecure people in the U.S.

SNAP benefits inject over $450 million into the Texas economy every month through grocery purchases and retail spending, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Any disruption could impact both households that rely on the program and the local businesses that depend on consumer food spending.

SNAP benefit delays begin Nov. 1 — and the East Texas Food Bank said the state's emergency food system is bracing for a surge in need.

While federal workers were the first to feel the effects, millions of Americans are now at risk of losing access to food assistance. By Saturday, November 1, SNAP benefits are expected to stop rolling out,

Families across Texas are bracing for impact as the government shutdown continues and Congress fails to reach a deal. On Sunday, the USDA confirmed on its website that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would not be issued on Nov. 1, saying “the well has run dry” and blaming Democrats for the federal gridlock.

About 3.5 million Texans—including 1.7 million children—could lose access to SNAP benefits next month if the shutdown continues.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said that SNAP benefits for November would not be issued if the federal government shutdown continued past Oct. 27. In North Texas, where grocery prices continue to climb, the loss of Supplemental Nutrition ...

As the government shutdown continues, millions of people in the U.S. could lose their SNAP benefits by Nov. 1, according to the USDA.