Nevada Speaker Steve Yeager called for the use of all available state resources to ensure that Nevada SNAP recipients continue to receive assistance to purchase food on Wednesday.
The speaker also gave praise to the people working to help people in need.
Speaker Yeager said, "I applaud those in the Executive and Legislature who are working hard on a plan to distribute additional food through Nevada's food banks. I applaud Attorney General Ford for pursuing all legal avenues against the federal administration, and I applaud Treasurer Conine in thinking outside the box on potential solutions, but we must do more."
He then also directed comments towards the GOP Federal Administration.
Speaker Yeager said, "This is no time to pussyfoot around or to mollycoddle Trump's Federal Administration that prides itself on being above the law. This GOP Federal Administration would be wise to remember that its power derives from the states and that it cannot tell Nevada what to do when it comes to feeding our own citizens."
He also said, "Other states, some led by Republicans, others led by Democrats, are directly funding SNAP benefits for their citizens. Nevada should do the same. I don't intend to take no for a F****ing answer."
Nevada Assemblymember Elaine Marzola, Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, also says the government has the responsibility to ensure the health and welfare of its citizens.
Assemblymember Marzola said, "Losing SNAP benefits will mean that 500,000 Nevadans, many of them children, will go without food on their kitchen table. That is unacceptable. SNAP beneficiaries include employed hard-working Nevadans who live paycheck to paycheck and have trouble making ends meet.
The assemblymember also added, "They are our friends, family, and neighbors who are entitled to dignity, respect, and the ability to provide for their families. We must act to help them in this time of great need."
Nevada Governor Lombardo, attorney general and secretary of state met Wednesday to recommend approving millions in funding to help hungry families in Nevada.
The $30 million will help fund the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan.
The State Board of Examiners approved the recommendation to move the money from the interim finance committee's contingency fund. The committee will have to give final approval to use the money on Thursday.
At the meeting, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada said they're boosting their efforts in rural communities to help hungry people. "Our reach will be far and we're trying to ensure every neighbor that needs access to food knows where to get it," says Nicole Lamboley, President and CEO, Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
The board also recommended approving $200,000 for the National Guard to help distribute food.
Attorney General Ford said a hearing is scheduled for Thursday on a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture over SNAP benefits. If a court stops benefits from being cut off, the $30 million would not need to be used.
"l voted for this funding today, but let's be clear, this is a Band-Aid and kids are still going to struggle to be fed," said Attorney General Ford. "That's why I'm suing the Trump Administration to use existing funds to fully fund the SNAP program. Nevada families shouldn't be left in limbo, and kids shouldn't be going hungry."
Yesterday, Attorney General Ford announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins for arbitrarily planning to suspend SNAP benefits. SNAP helps more than 40 million Americans, including nearly 500,000 Nevadans, buy food. In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Ford joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors.
Republican leaders in Congress on Wednesday said it's all or nothing as they rejected a Democratic push for a temporary fix.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that SNAP benefits have never stopped during previous government shutdowns and urged quick passage of the funding bill.
"It's simple, it's moral, it's urgent," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as he called for passage of the SNAP funding Wednesday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., angrily objected to the Democratic request, calling it "a cynical attempt to provide political cover" for Democrats to continue the shutdown, now in its 29th day.
"We're not going to let them pick winners and losers," Thune said. "It's time to fund everybody."
If Democrats want to prevent damage from the shutdown, "they can end the shutdown," Thune said.
In a press conference, House Democrats called on Trump to return from his trip in Asia to address the issue.
"If the president wanted to help feed hungry American children, he would," said Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee that handles the food aid program. "I'm calling on the president to get back from Asia and do the right thing -- and the moral thing."
As Republicans objected to the legislation to continue SNAP benefits, Democrats said they'd also support a similar bill from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who has separate legislation to immediately fund the program.
But Thune said Republicans won't allow a piecemeal process. He called on Democrats to support their bill to extend all government funding and reopen the government.
"If Democrats really want to fund SNAP and WIC, we have a bill for them," he said.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) is sponsoring two bills - one led by Democrats, the other led by Republicans - to ensure that families still have access to SNAP if the government shutdown stretches beyond the end of the month.
"I've made my position clear: shutting down the government only serves to harm hardworking Americans, and I am against using the lives of Nevadans as political bargaining chips," said Senator Cortez Masto. "But as long as we are in this position, I demand that the Trump administration use the tools at its disposal to make sure Nevada families don't go hungry."
The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 was led by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). It would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately release the funds that Congress has already appropriated in contingency funds to keep food assistance funded during the shutdown. The Keep SNAP Funded Act led by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) would appropriate funding for SNAP, providing uninterrupted SNAP benefits without the need for contingency funds.
You can read the bill text below -
Download PDF
Meanwhile, two food drives are happening this Friday to support Nevadans struggling during the government shutdown.
You can donate in both Reno and Carson City from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local News Two Nevada Day food drives to help residents amid government shutdown 2 News Nevada digital team
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is teaming up with Catholic Charities to offer four different distribution events to help people that may be affected during the government shutdown.
Food will be distributed this Sunday, November 2, from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.
At the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, the pick-up will be in the form of a drive-up and a walk-up option for people without vehicles.
Catholic Charities will also have three locations at the Moana Neighborhood Center, Sun Valley Neighborhood Center, and the St. Rose of Lima Church location.
Food Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Catholic Charities helping Nevadans amid government shutdown 2 News Nevada Digital Team
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada is also offering a free hot dinner at St. Vincent's Dining Room, located at 325 Valley Road in Reno this Nevada Day weekend.
Dinners will be served Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., and will continue every Saturday and Sunday evening through the end of November. Guests are asked to bring their EBT card and a photo ID to verify eligibility for the dinner meal. Meals will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
As a reminder, St. Vincent's Dining Room remains open daily, serving lunch to all who are hungry from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 365 days a year.
Local News Catholic Charities urges baby formula donations amid WIC uncertainty 2 News Nevada Digital Team
Earlier this week, the USDA posted a notice on its homepage saying that federal food aid will not go out on November 1.
"Bottom line, the well has run dry," the USDA notice says. "At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats." Nationally, the SNAP program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.
The federal shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now the second-longest on record.
Nevada and 20+ other states are suing the USDA and its secretary over threats to suspend SNAP benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The program helps more than 40 million Americans, including nearly 500,000 Nevadans, buy food.
On Monday, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo released an updated fact sheet on possible impacts from the shutdown. (which you can read below)
Lombardo directed the Governor's Finance Office, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture to implement the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan, which will secure supplemental resources for SNAP beneficiaries in the event the shutdown extends beyond October 31.
The State will fund the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan with $38.8 million of state dollars through $30.2 of the IFC Contingency Fund and through emergency work programs totaling $8.6 million.
The Governor's Finance Office has requested a $30 million allocation to fund the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan from the Interim Finance Committee.
The Office of the Military has requested $200,000 from the Interim Finance Committee for the deployment of the Nevada National Guard to assist with the food distribution of the Food Insecurity Nevada Plan.
The Interim Finance Committee will convene on Thursday, October 30 to consider the request.
Download PDF
Another program that helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents purchase nutritious staples, like baby formula, will likely run out of funds the following week. Earlier this month, WIC received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration, but those funds are running out, too.
The governor's office say he is dedicated to ensuring that the 55,000+ participants of Nevada's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program continue to have access to food benefit. To support that direction, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, in partnership with the Nevada Office of Emergency Management, requested $7.3 million in emergency funding to support WIC.
The funding was approved by the Nevada Board of Examiners on October 14 and the Interim Finance Committee (IFC) on October 16. The funding will ensure continued food benefits for participants statewide including pregnant women, new mothers, and young children through December 23, 2025, regardless of federal funding. Funds will be distributed weekly and only used if the USDA does not provide additional WIC food funding.
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada is calling on the public for baby formula donations as families face growing uncertainty surrounding WIC benefits.
The organization is requesting both soy- and milk-based formulas to support infants who could be affected by potential reductions in federal funding.
The organization is accepting all brands and types of unopened, unexpired baby formula.
Donations can be dropped off daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at any Catholic Charities donation center, including St. Vincent's Thrift Store and Super Thrift.
Locations are listed online at https://ccsnn.org/pages/thrift-stores.
Donations can also be made through the Amazon Wish List at https://tinyurl.com/5n7s2kuu.
Local News Catholic Charities urges baby formula donations amid WIC uncertainty 2 News Nevada Digital Team
Food pantries provide about 1 meal to every 9 provided by SNAP, according to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks. They get the food they distribute through donations from people, businesses and some farmers. They also get food from U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and sometimes buy food with contributions and grant funding.
"The Trump Administration's choice to cut SNAP benefits is not only a deliberate, cruel and extraordinarily harmful decision, it is unlawful. And the reason it cites -- the ongoing federal government shutdown -- is inadequate," said Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford. "Contingency funds exist for this exact scenario, yet the USDA has decided to abdicate its responsibility to Nevadans and refused to fund SNAP benefits. I understand the stress of not knowing where your next meal is coming from, because I've lived it. I don't wish that stress on any Nevadan, and I'll fight to be sure nobody in our state goes hungry. I urge Governor Lombardo to do the same and to work with his party and President Trump to ensure that Nevadans receive their SNAP benefits."
LEADER CANNIZZARO STATEMENT ON AG FORD'S SNAP
Today, Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro released the following statement in support of Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford's lawsuit against the Trump administration to reverse the administration's decision to stop paying SNAP benefits. In the last few days, the Trump administration abruptly changed federal SNAP guidance and announced it would not use available contingency funds to continue to pay benefits after the end of this month.
"I fully support Attorney General Ford's lawsuit against the Trump administration's cruel decision to let SNAP benefits lapse for 500,000 Nevadans, and I commend him for continually stepping up to hold the administration accountable on behalf of Nevadans. To be clear, the administration is making an intentional choice to let SNAP contingency funds sit unspent while millions of American families face going hungry. Republicans should step up and demand that the Trump administration release these funds - as they planned to do just a few weeks ago - and keep food on the table for Nevada families."
Previously, Governor Lombardo responded to suggestions that state funds could be used to support SNAP.
In a statement directly addressing Nevada Congressional Representatives Steven Horsford, Dina Titus, and Susie Lee, the Governor said the proposed solution is not viable.
"The USDA has made clear that states cannot use their own dollars to fund federal SNAP benefits, even on a temporary basis, and cannot share SNAP household data with vendors to do so," said Governor Lombardo in a statement.
On Oct. 1, 2025, the new federal fiscal year began without an appropriation by Congress to fund the federal government, creating a government shutdown. On Oct. 10, USDA sent a letter to state SNAP agencies saying that if the shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for the approximately 42 million individuals across the country that rely on them.
National News When the government shutdown will affect SNAP, Head Start and military pay By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press
Joining Attorney General Ford in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania have also joined.
You can read the lawsuit below -
Download PDF
(Office of Nevada Attorney General and Governor's Office, USDA and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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