COLUMBUS — With federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on track to face interruption if the government shutdown continues, Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order directing state officials to deploy up to $25 million in emergency relief. The aid package aims to support both low-income families and food banks across Ohio.
The order instructs the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to allocate $7 million immediately to regional food banks using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, and up to $18 million in emergency relief payments to households at or below 50 percent of the federal poverty level.
In state officials’ remarks, Ohio is home to approximately 1.4 million SNAP recipients, a number that underscores the urgency of the intervention.
Governor DeWine noted that while the state’s action provides critical short-term aid, it does not replace the federal program and urged Congress to pass the continuing resolution awaiting Senate approval. “The best way to help Ohioans in need of food assistance is for U.S. Senate Democrats to end the filibuster of SNAP benefits and other important federal programs,” he said.
House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley joined the announcement, emphasizing the state’s responsibility to act in the face of federal funding uncertainties. “Although SNAP is a federally managed and funded program, Ohio is taking intentional steps to provide relief for those families who will be most impacted,” Huffman said.
The state plans to begin fund distribution immediately. Food banks will receive incentivized funding, and relief payments to qualifying families are expected to begin within days. While this action provides a buffer, officials reiterate that a lasting solution depends on federal lawmakers restoring full program funding.