Governor Says State Can’t Legally Replace Federal SNAP Money
About half a million of your Nevada neighbors are wondering if they will be able to put food on their tables next month as the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week.
Three Democratic members of Congress from Nevada wrote to Governor Lombardo. They wanted him to use state money to keep food stamps flowing to nearly 500,000 Nevadans. Sounds simple, right? Wrong.
Governor Joe Lombardo said using state funds to support SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown is not a “viable solution.” This isn’t because he doesn’t want to help. It’s because federal bureaucrats in Washington have tied his hands with red tape.
Federal Bureaucracy Gets in the Way
The problem isn’t money. Nevada has it. Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Nevada state officials in mid-October that the state cannot transmit the SNAP data to create an emergency cash program or share SNAP household data with vendors overseeing the electronic benefit transfer system that allows SNAP recipients to pay for food with SNAP benefits.
Think about that for a moment. The federal government shuts down. It stops sending food stamp money. But when states try to step in and help their own people, Washington says “you can’t do that.” They won’t even let Nevada use the list of who gets food stamps to send them checks.
Monthly benefits for Nevada SNAP recipients cost approximately $90 million. That’s a lot of money, but Nevada could find it if Washington would just get out of the way. Instead, federal rules say states can’t touch the program. Period.
Governor Takes Action Within His Authority
Governor Lombardo isn’t sitting on his hands. Lombardo added that he had directed state agencies and potentially the state National Guard to:
“to expand support for food banks and community partners that serve SNAP beneficiaries.”
He’s doing what he legally can do. (No kings, remember?)
On Friday evening, after this story was published, the governor’s finance office reverted $5.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding to address food insecurity as SNAP funding is set to run out. That’s real action, not just talk.
Democrats Point Fingers While Problem Persists
Here’s where things get interesting. The same Democrats asking the governor to fix this mess blamed Republicans for the shutdown. It started with a letter from Reps. Steven Horsford, Dina Titus and Susie Lee, all D-Nev., to Lombardo, lamenting “…the ever-rising cost of living under the Trump-Vance Administration” that has left more people relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Meanwhile, Governor Lombardo fired back.
“We are doing everything within our authority to support Nevadans who are being hurt by the federal funding stalemate in Congress being fed by Democrats’ inaction,” Lombardo said.
Democratic Treasurer Zach Conine jumped into the fight too. Conine said the loss of benefits could lead to a reduced economic output of $162 million for the state almost immediately. If the shutdown continues and December SNAP benefits are cut as well, Conine warned of a loss of $324 million in overall economic activity. The Nevada Independent
The Real Problem: Big Government Red Tape
This whole mess shows exactly what’s wrong with big government programs. When Washington controls everything, states can’t even help their own people in an emergency. The rules are so strict that even when everyone agrees people need help, bureaucracy stands in the way.
While the State could seek access to reverted General Fund dollars, unspent American Rescue Plan Act funding, or Rainy Day Funds through legislative authorization to temporarily fund emergency benefits, the emergency program would need to stay fully distinct from SNAP to remain compliant with federal regulations.
Translation: Nevada could create a whole new program, but it would take months to set up.
What Happens Next?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) started warning states that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may not be funded if the current government shutdown goes into a second month. If the shutdown continues past October 31, benefits stop. It’s that simple.
Governor Lombardo called on both parties to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. He’s right. While politicians play games in Washington, real people suffer.
What Can Conservatives Do?
First, call your representatives. Tell them to get the government open and then fix this broken system. States should have more flexibility to help their own people when Washington fails.
Second, support your local food banks. The governor is directing resources there, and they’ll need all the help they can get.
Third, remember this next time someone tells you we need more federal programs. When push comes to shove, Washington’s rules matter more than feeding hungry families.
This isn’t about Republican versus Democrat. It’s about a broken system that puts regulations ahead of people. And that’s something every conservative should care about fixing.
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.
