Issued by Eboni Delaney, Interim Director of Policy and Movement Building
Since October 1, 2025, the federal government has been shut down following the expiration of appropriations for FY 2026. This impasse has direct consequences for families, which will escalate after more programs run out of funding November 1.
Without immediate action, families will see increases to their health care bills and millions of parents, babies and toddlers could lose health coverage, food assistance, early education, housing, and other crucial income supports.
What’s Happening with SNAP and Related Nutrition Supports
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports more than 40 million Americans, including 1 in 5 children, each month.
- Last week, the USDA determined that emergency contingency funds can’t be used to extend benefits. The USDA stated that because this is not considered a qualifying “emergency,” but rather a lapse caused by congressional inaction they cannot utilize these funds. As a result, there will be no additional SNAP funds released to the states for November onward.
- Several states have filed lawsuits to compel USDA to release contingency funds. Others, including Virginia, California, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, are mobilizing resources through state funds, food banks, the National Guard, or emergency declarations to maintain food aid delivery.
Take Action on SNAP
SNAP Toolkit: Join the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in pressuring the USDA to ensure full November SNAP benefits are not delayed.
What’s Happening with Head Start
There are about 180 programs that will cease receiving funds on Nov. 1. This missed funding will impact Head Start programs, which work with an estimated 65,000 young children in 40+ states across the nation.
Take Action on Head Start
What’s Happening with CACFP
CACFP is critical because it provides meals for children and is also a revenue stream for family child care programs. There is less information about CACFP; however, at this time, it does appear that USDA will continue to fund CACFP. All state agencies that administer CACFP should have the funds they need to process reimbursements for October expenses. Please notify us at policy@nafcc.org if you experience any disruptions in CACFP funding.
Impact on Family Child Care Educators
Delays or reductions in Head Start or SNAP benefits create pressure in two ways:
- Families experiencing food insecurity may struggle to cover child care costs, need assistance in paying for food for their children or face disruptions in care.
- We know many of those in child care rely on public assistance like SNAP for their own families despite working long hours. This could increase food insecurity within the child care sector.
The ripple effect is clear: reduced resources for families lead to heightened strain on child care settings and increased risk of disruptions to other programs—at the very moment when children most need consistent care and nutrition support.
Call to Action
Congress and the Administration must act with urgency to protect children, families, and the early care workforce by continuing to fund critical programs like Head Start & SNAP.
Food security is foundational to healthy child development. When children arrive hungry, educators step in to fill the gap, often at their own expense. Sustaining SNAP ensures that care environments remain stable and that educators can continue to meet children’s needs.
Maintaining core safety-net programs, like Head Start & SNAP, during a political impasse is essential to the well-being of children, the stability of families, and the strength of local economies.
Immediate Next Steps for Educators
Contact your elected officials. Urge your U.S. Representative and Senators to support immediate action that sustains SNAP, CACFP, and Head Start funding. Use the tools above or NAFCC’s Action Center.
If you are experiencing changes in enrollment, food costs, or reimbursement delays, share your experience with NAFCC’s advocacy team so we can lift your voice in ongoing conversations with policymakers.
As the federal government shutdown continues, children, families, and the family child care educators who care for them are bearing the consequences. NAFCC stands ready to support family child care educators in making their voices heard and to work with
Congress and the Administration to protect the stability of child care, sustain the early care and education workforce, and ensure every child continues to have access to the care and learning they deserve.
