Illinois allocates $20 million to food banks in response to SNAP funding loss

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed an Executive Order on Thursday that provides emergency funding for food banks and pantries in preparation for the pause of SNAP benefits this weekend, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“The Trump Administration wants to let tens of millions of Americans go hungry, a failure in leadership and abdication of our responsibility as Americans to take care of each other,” said Pritzker. “Illinois families, kids, seniors, and people with disabilities will now go without food benefits because President Trump wants to use food assistance as a political bargaining chip. I am directing the state government to work together with food banks, local grocers, and other community organizations and help provide some relief to Illinoisans as the federal government tears apart decades-long food assistance support.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is funded completely by the federal government, which gives the State of Illinois approximately $350 million to distribute each year.

Pritzker said the state cannot make up the funding gap, but through his executive order, designated $20 million to support seven Illinois food banks that supply 2,600 food pantries across the state.

The funding comes from both the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursments and Governmental Emergencies fund and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The order also directs state agencies to conduct a comprehensive study on food insecurity, host listening sessions with residents, grocers, food banks, and farmers, analyze Illinois’ SNAP payment error rate (which reduces the amount of federal funding the state can receive), and form programs to help SNAP recipients understand the program’s new eligibility work requirements.