10/04/2025
Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know About Colorado Nutrition Programs City of Pueblo, Colorado - City Government
2025 Government Shutdown
Impact on Colorado Nutrition Programs
Updated 10/1/25, 5:00 PM
Background: After Congress failed to pass a budget for Fiscal Year 2026 by the September 30
deadline, the federal government officially shut down on October 1, 2025. The shutdown will
continue until Congress passes and the President signs funding legislation. For more on how
we got here, check out this story from CPR
Topline Messages:
● Coloradans should continue applying for and using their food benefits.
● October benefits for nutrition programs–including SNAP and WIC–are NOT impacted.
● Nutrition programs, including WIC, remain open for business in Colorado.
● Colorado public school students can continue to access free meals at school.
● Double Up Food Bucks and Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus continue to operate as
usual.
How does the government shutdown impact nutrition programs in Colorado?
SNAP
● October SNAP benefits will be issued in full and on time. EBT cards are still working and
SNAP participants should continue shopping as usual at authorized retailers.
● State and county offices remain open to help with questions, applications, or
recertifications. Households should continue submitting paperwork on time to avoid
disruptions in benefits.
● If the shutdown lasts into November, benefits could be disrupted - check out
cdhs.colorado.gov/SNAP for more information on SNAP and any urgent updates.
WIC
● Colorado WIC is open for business. The state of Colorado acted quickly to ensure WIC
food benefits are fully funded through at least October 31, 2025 despite the federal
government shutdown.
● Colorado WIC participants should continue using their food benefits and attending their
appointments as usual.
● Colorado WIC will provide any updates at www.coloradowic.gov/alerts.
Healthy School Meals for All
● Colorado public school students can continue to access free meals at school.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
● TEFAP entitlement foods are purchased 2-3 months ahead of delivery and all USDA
purchases paid for before October 1 will still be delivered. However, new orders cannot
be placed during a shutdown.
● USDA will not provide additional funds for TEFAP administrative grants during a
shutdown; states can reimburse distribution costs with remaining FY2025 funds on hand.
Colorado Food Program
● The Colorado Food Program (also known as the Child and Adult Care Food Program -
CACFP) will continue to operate as normal through at least October 31, 2025.
Emergency Food Providers (food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens, etc.)
● The emergency food system could see a surge in demand for food as federal workers
and others go without paychecks. This is at a time when food banks are already
stretched due to sustained high need.
Nutrition Incentive Programs
● State incentive programs (Double Up Food Bucks and Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus)
will continue to operate as usual.
Pueblo RMSER Empowerment Center
Pueblo Food Project
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households purchase food. Families and individuals can receive a monthly benefit to buy healthy food. They can double their benefits value by shopping at participating vendors that support the Double Up Food Bucks program.
