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With the federal government still shut down, nearly half a million Nevada families who rely on food assistance are caught in the crossfire.
To keep people from going hungry, Governor Joe Lombardo and state lawmakers approved $30.2 million in emergency funds to help the state’s two main food banks fill the gap as federal SNAP dollars stall.
It’s not a long-term fix. But it’s something.
Nevada’s Emergency Plan
The money comes from the state’s contingency fund and will flow straight to Three Square in Southern Nevada and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, which supply hundreds of pantries statewide.
Together, they’ll use the funds to buy truckloads of food and move it quickly where it’s needed most.
SNAP benefits in Nevada normally total about $90 million each month.
That means this emergency plan covers only about a third of what the federal program provides.
The Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee voted Thursday to send $30.2 million to the food banks.
That follows earlier state allocations of $8.6 million in federal relief dollars, bringing total emergency support to roughly $38.8 million for food banks.
The Board of Examiners (Gov. Lombardo, Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar) unanimously backed the transfer the day before.
The state also set aside $200,000 to have the Nevada National Guard assist with warehouse logistics and distributions.
Demand Already Surging
Three Square says demand is already jumping.
“In Southern Nevada, over the last four months, we’ve seen a 16% increase of people coming into food pantries. Of that increase, 75% have been first-time visitors,” said Beth Martino, Three Square’s president & CEO.
The food bank has added pop-up distributions and is preparing to nearly double output if needed.
Up north, FBNN says it serves 17 counties through more than a hundred partners and expects about a 25% increase in demand as SNAP stalls. Many partner sites are extending hours to keep up.
Lombardo Acts, Feds Stall
Gov. Lombardo has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release roughly $5–6 billion from its contingency reserve to keep SNAP flowing.
“It would be very beneficial if the USDA released its contingency funds,” Lombardo said this week. “That was a request we had made, and we were advised that would not happen.”
Nevada has joined other states in suing the federal government over the SNAP lapse.
On Friday, two federal judges ordered the administration to tap contingency funds and continue benefits, but it’s still unclear how quickly payments will reach families.
State officials stress the Nevada plan is a stopgap to keep food moving while Washington sorts out the stalemate.
What About the Rainy-Day Fund?
Some Democrats, including Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, want to go further, calling for the state to tap its $1.3 billion rainy-day fund to directly help families losing SNAP benefits.
Lombardo’s finance team says it’s not that simple.
Federal rules don’t allow Nevada to load state money onto federal EBT cards or use the SNAP database to deliver state-funded benefits.
Doing so could violate federal regulations and put future funding at risk.
If the state sends cash aid, it must be through a separate, state-run program with its own eligibility and systems.
Band-Aids Don’t Fix Broken Bones
Food banks are doing everything they can.
Three Square is running emergency distribution sites in Las Vegas, and FBNN is expanding hours with help from the National Guard and local partners.
But everyone agrees this is only a temporary bridge.
When Washington fails, states – and taxpayers – get stuck holding the bag.
Nevada stepped in responsibly, but state dollars can’t replace federal programs for long.
Nevada families will get through this. Volunteers will step up. Food banks will stretch every dollar.
But the longer D.C. drags its feet, the more obvious it becomes that government promises are fragile – and that real solutions will come from leadership, not political pussyfooting.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
