Governor Joe Lombardo toured Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas yesterday. The reason? About 500,000 Nevadans just lost their food stamps because Washington can’t get its act together.
The federal government shutdown hit its second month on Saturday. For the first time in 60 years, SNAP benefits—what we used to call food stamps—completely stopped. That means half a million of our neighbors woke up November 1st with no help buying groceries.
“If people don’t understand the situation they’re in, the fear creeps in, and we are here to provide the solutions for them,” Lombardo said during his visit.
State Picks Up Washington’s Tab
Here’s what really burns. Nevada taxpayers are now footing a $38 million bill to keep people fed. The state already spent that money from its contingency fund. Lombardo says if that runs out, they’ll tap into the rainy day fund next.
Lombardo wrote on social media:
“Today, I joined Beth Martino, CEO of @threesquareLV, to highlight the nearly $40 million my administration allocated to ensure no one goes hungry during the shutdown. Nevadans can access food at leading food banks—Three Square in the south and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.”
Think about that for a minute. Your state tax dollars are covering what the federal government promised to pay. Meanwhile, the feds have about $6 billion sitting in an emergency fund specifically for this situation. But they won’t use it all.
Three Square CEO Beth Martino says her food bank normally helps folks stretch their budgets. Now they’re seeing a 16 percent jump in people needing help. First-time visitors make up three-quarters of that increase. These aren’t your typical food bank clients. These are working families who counted on those benefits to make ends meet.
Washington’s Half-Hearted Response
After two federal judges ordered them to act, the Trump administration finally agreed to release some money yesterday. But here’s the kicker—they’re only paying 50 cents on the dollar. Instead of the full benefits, families will get half of what they need.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the money might start flowing by Wednesday. But state officials warn it could take weeks or even months in some places. The government says they need to reprogram old computer systems. Some of these systems are decades old.
Nevada National Guard Called In
The situation is so serious that Lombardo deployed the National Guard for two weeks.
They’re not keeping order—they’re packing and delivering food boxes. Over the weekend, Three Square ran emergency food distributions at UNLV with cars wrapped around the Thomas & Mack Center parking lot. They served over 3,000 families in just a few days.
“We’re calling on the community to help support us, but we know that ultimately the solution to the situation we’re in is to see the government reopened,” Martino said.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This mess shows exactly why conservatives worry about big government. When Washington controls your food supply, you’re at their mercy. One political fight in Congress and suddenly half a million people can’t buy groceries.
The shutdown started October 1st over a fight about healthcare tax credits. Democrats wanted to extend them. Republicans wanted a clean funding bill. Now regular folks are paying the price.
This is also about state sovereignty. Nevada is using its own money to fix Washington’s failure. The federal government even told Lombardo he can’t use their SNAP database to send state money directly to people’s benefit cards. They’re making states create whole new programs from scratch.
What Happens Next
Lombardo says the state money should last through November. After that, lawmakers might need a special session to approve more funding. Several other states are doing the same thing—using state tax dollars to cover federal obligations.
The federal government says once they reopen, they’ll pay people back for what they missed. But that doesn’t help families trying to buy dinner tonight.
If you want to help, Three Square Food Bank is taking donations and needs volunteers. They’re at 4190 N. Pecos Road and open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also call them at 702-765-4030.
The bottom line is simple. When you depend on the federal government for your daily bread, you’re one shutdown away from hunger. Nevada is stepping up because it has to. But this crisis shows why limiting government and keeping control close to home makes sense.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
