Children can’t learn on empty stomachs, and every educator knows it. Hungry children struggle to focus, grow, and succeed in school. That’s why AFSA joined the nation’s leading K–12 education organizations in urging Congress and the Administration to immediately release contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring families continue receiving food assistance during the ongoing federal government shutdown. In a letter sent October 31, 2025, to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, and congressional leaders from both parties, the coalition expressed grave concern that millions of children and families could lose access to essential food benefits as early as November 1.
“Across the country, many schools, childcare programs, food banks, afterschool programs, and parent groups are scrambling to prepare for the possibility of millions of families suddenly losing access Nov. 1 to the support they rely on for feeding their children,” the letter stated.
The letter emphasizes the direct link between food security and student learning. Research consistently shows that hunger impairs concentration, lowers test scores, and increases the risk of behavioral issues such as anxiety and aggression. School leaders are already reporting changes in student behavior and rising distress among families facing food insecurity, unemployment, and escalating grocery prices.
“Principals and superintendents are already witnessing behavior changes in students whose parents are facing compounding pressures,” the groups wrote. “Children being fed is imperative to their health, development, and academic achievement.”
The coalition notes that Congress previously established a $6 billion contingency reserve fund to sustain SNAP operations during emergencies and that both Democratic and Republican administrations have historically tapped this funding to maintain benefits during shutdowns. Governors in several states—including Virginia and Rhode Island—have already declared emergencies in anticipation of the lapse.
The organizations urge federal leaders to immediately release those reserve funds and use any other available flexibilities without reducing support for other nutrition programs.
“Food for our nation’s children and their ability to learn should not be caught in the crosshairs of a government shutdown,” the letter concludes. “This is the time to demonstrate leadership and take action to protect the health, well-being, and education of millions of children and families across the country.”
Signatories include AFSA, National PTA, AASA: The School Superintendents Association, NEA, AFT, Learning Forward, AFSCME, The Education Trust, and a range of organizations representing educators, school leaders, bilingual education advocates, and child welfare professionals.
Together, these organizations represent millions of educators, school staff, and families united in a single message: children should never go hungry—especially because of political gridlock.
