Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, along the Delaware River, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HARRISBURG — With the crises at the heart of the government shutdown fight in Washington coming to a head Saturday as the federal food assistance program faced delays and millions of Americans were set to see a dramatic rise in their health insurance bills, two million Pennsylvanians got a reprieve.

According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued on Saturday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced new state-led efforts to support Pennsylvania’s charitable food network and Pennsylvanians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, after the Trump Administration refused to fund SNAP benefits in November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The impacts on basic needs — food and medical care — underscored how the impasse is hitting homes across the United States. Plans by the Trump administration to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Saturday were halted by federal judges, but the delay in payouts will still likely leave millions of people short on their grocery bills.

It all added to the strain on the country, with a month of missed paychecks for federal workers and growing air travel delays. The shutdown is already the second longest in history and entered its second month on Saturday.

On Friday, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Leadership released the following statement about Shapiro’s food assistance plan: “We thank Gov. Shapiro for stepping up to invest state resources into food banks to protect and support Pennsylvanians subjected to these cruel cuts to food assistance by the Trump Administration.

It continued, “One in four Pennsylvania children will go hungry due to these cuts to SNAP. That’s outrageous and unacceptable anytime but especially cruel in the month we’re supposed to celebrate Thanksgiving. Kids can’t learn, play, or stay healthy on an empty stomach.

It read, “This plan will provide immediate support to the state’s food banks to make sure no child, senior citizen or person working too hard for too little pay doesn’t go hungry until the federal government does its job. This plan also supports our farmers and grocers who depend on SNAP recipients and food banks as customers.

It added, “Gov. Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding share our commitment to fighting for all Pennsylvanians and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable food, utilities, and health care. While it’s shameful that the Trump Administration is indifferent to hunger, House Democrats stand in lockstep with the Shapiro Administration in caring for people and taking action to deploy resources immediately.”

Shapiro is driving out $5 million in state funding immediately to Feeding Pennsylvania to distribute through its network of food banks across the Commonwealth. The governor also signed a declaration of disaster emergency to expedite the delivery of Commonwealth funding and ensure relief reaches Pennsylvanians as quickly as possible. The declaration will allow state resources to be driven out more quickly, streamline contracting and provide Shapiro with additional tools to address the harm caused by the federal government shutdown.

Pennsylvania isn’t the only state hitting the panic button; there are others like neighboring New York.

People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday, after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were suddenly cut off because of the ongoing government shutdown.

In the New York borough of the Bronx, about 200 more people than usual showed up at the World of Life Christian Fellowship International pantry, many bundled in winter hats and coats and pushing collapsible shopping carts as they waited in a line that spanned multiple city blocks. Some arrived as early as 4 a.m. to choose from pallets of fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, juice, dry goods and prepared sandwiches.

Mary Martin, who volunteers at the pantry, also relies on it regularly for food to supplement her SNAP payments. She said she usually splits her roughly $200 a month in SNAP benefits between herself and her two adult sons, one of whom has six children and is especially dependent on the assistance.

“If I didn’t have the pantry to come to, I don’t know how we would make it,” Martin said.

“I’m not gonna see my grandkids suffer.”

The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold payments to the food program starting Saturday until two federal judges ordered the administration to make them. However it was unclear as to when the debit cards that beneficiaries use could be reloaded after the ruling, sparking fear and confusion among many recipients.

In an apparent response to President Donald Trump, who said he would provide the money but wanted more legal direction from the court, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the government to report back by today on how it would fund SNAP accounts.

McConnell, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said the Trump administration must either make a full payment by that day or, if it decides to tap $3 billion in a contingency fund, figure out how to do that by Wednesday.

The delay in SNAP payments, a major piece of the nation’s social safety net that serves about 42 million people, has highlighted the financial vulnerabilities that many face. At the Bronx food pantry, the Rev. John Udo-Okon said “people from all walks of life” are seeking help now.

“The pantry is no longer for the poor, for the elderly, for the needy. The pantry now is for the whole community, everybody,” Udo-Okon said. “You see people will drive in their car and come and park and wait to see if they can get food.”

In Austell, Ga., people in hundreds of cars in drive-through lanes picked up nonperishable and perishable bags of food. Must Ministries said it handed out food to about 1,000 people, more than a typical bimonthly food delivery.

Families in line said they worried about not getting SNAP benefits in time for Thanksgiving.

At a drive-through food giveaway at the Calvary Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., SNAP recipient James Jackson, 74, said he is frustrated that people are being hurt by decisions made in Washington and lawmakers should try harder to understand challenges brought by poverty and food insecurity.

“If you’ve never been poor, you don’t know what it is to be poor,” Jackson said. “I hope that it turns around. I hope that people get their SNAP benefits, and I hope we just come together where we can love each other and feed each other and help each other.”

While there is typically a long line for Calvary Baptist Church’s drive-through events, the Rev. Samuel L. Whitlow said, the walk-in food pantry has seen increased demand recently with roughly 60 additional people showing up this week.

And in Norwich, Conn., the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen and food pantry had 10 extra volunteers working Saturday to help a wave of expected newcomers, making sure they felt comfortable and understood the services available. Besides groceries and hot meals, the site was providing pet food, toiletries and blood pressure checks.

“They’re embarrassed. They have shame. So you have to deal with that as well,” director Jill Corbin said. “But we do our best to just try to welcome people.”

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The Associated Press also contributed to this story.