The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Saturday that food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be issued in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its 25th day.

Over 41 million Americans rely on the program, with some states, such as New Mexico, seeing up to 21% of residents dependent on SNAP. The USDA confirmed it will not tap into emergency reserves to fund the benefits, despite pressure from more than 200 House Democrats.

States including Louisiana and Virginia have declared emergencies to allocate funds for hunger relief as families face potential food shortages next month.

The impasse in Congress between Republicans and Democrats continues, leaving millions at risk of missing vital support.