The calls to the Republican governor came as the food stamp program was set to run out of funding amid the government shutdown.

Newer figures from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) show only slight shifts. As of September 2025, Harris County still has by far the largest number of SNAP-eligible individuals, while Fort Bend, Galveston, and Brazoria have seen the steepest growth. Montgomery County is the only major Houston-area county showing a decline.

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

Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to declare a state of emergency and fund SNAP benefits for 3.5 million Texans who will lose food assistance in November due to the government shutdown.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, is the country’s largest anti-hunger program. Teixeira argued that the ongoing government shutdown is “exposing serious problems” in the program, which is set to expire on Friday.

Texas, offered a pointed analogy Wednesday when asked about Democrats blaming President Donald Trump for the impending cutoff of federal nutrition assistance due to the government shutdown. Cornyn compared Democrats to the proverbial kid who murders his parents,