What’s the real reason the national guard is in Chicago? The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) confirms, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will end in November.
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, nearly two million Illinois residents will not get their food benefits in November. This includes children, seniors, and the disabled.
Oh! SNAP:The Countdown Begins
This is not a drill. This is an imminent human catastrophe. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has notified all states. It will not fund SNAP benefits unless the federal government reopens.
For Illinois, this decision is catastrophic. It instantly halts $350 million in monthly aid that feeds families in every corner of our state. Food banks are already sounding the alarm.
Food Pantries Flooded?
Man-Yee Lee of the Greater Chicago Food Depository called the situation an “inevitable crisis.” He warned that food pantries are about to be “overwhelmed” by families with nowhere else to turn.
This cutoff isn’t a abstract political debate; it is the sudden, terrifying removal of food from the tables of 1.9 million people.
A Brutal “Double Blow” Against the Poor
As if this immediate crisis weren’t enough, it comes at the same time as a separate, devastating legislative change. New federal law is expanding the harsh work requirements needed to get benefits.
This “double blow,” as CBS Chicago reports, means that even if funding is restored, hundreds of thousands are still at risk. The new rules are set to raise the age cap for strict work mandates and change eligibility rules. State officials estimate this will jeopardize benefits for another 360,000 to 446,000 Illinoisans.
Who Will Hurt The Most?
Who are we allowing to fall through these cracks? According to IDHS data, the people at risk are not statistics. They are:
- Households with children (45%)
- Households with a person with a disability (44%)
- Households with older adults (37%)
“Do Not Oppress the Poor”: A Blinding Moral Failure
As people of faith, we can’t be silent while our neighbors are threatened with starvation. This is not a partisan issue—it is a profound moral failure. We are witnessing the vulnerable being used as pawns, and the result is hunger.
The Word of God is unequivocally clear about our responsibility to justice. We are commanded not only to give to the poor. We must also ensure the systems of our society do not crush them.
“In the past Adonai-Tzva’ot said, ‘Administer true justice. Let everyone show mercy and compassion to his brother. Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don’t plot evil against each other.’”
(Z’kharyah [Zechariah] 7:9-10, Complete Jewish Bible)
To cut off food for children, the elderly, and the disabled is a direct violation of this sacred command. It is the very definition of oppression.
Will the Church Stand in the Gap?
This is the moment for the Body of Christ to mobilize. Our compassion must be transformed into immediate, powerful action.
- Pray with Fervor: Pray for a swift end to the government shutdown. Pray that the hearts of leaders are turned toward compassion and justice, not political victory.
- Prepare to Give: Our local food banks and church pantries are the last line of defense. They are bracing for an overwhelming surge. Prepare to give sacrificially—money, food, and your time. The Greater Chicago Food Depository and other local pantries will need a massive infusion of support to handle this.
- Advocate with Righteous Anger: Call your federal representatives. Demand they pass a budget and fund SNAP. Tell them that using the hungry as a bargaining chip is an abomination.
We are facing an inevitable crisis. The only question is how we, as followers of Messiah, will respond to the cry of the poor. We must not be found to have “shut [our] ear to the poor man’s cry” (Mishlei [Proverbs] 21:13).
Sources:
- Perlman, M. (2025, October 20). Food pantries prepare as SNAP benefits to end in Illinois next month if government shutdown continues. CBS News Chicago.
- Szalinski, B. (2025, October 20). Nearly 2 Million Illinois Residents Set to Lose SNAP Benefits Amid Congressional Stalemate. WTTW News.
- Illinois Department of Human Services. (2025, October). SNAP Benefits Threatened By Ongoing Federal Shutdown. WGEL News.
- Illinois House Appropriations Committee. (2025, October 16). House Committee Discusses Future of Illinois SNAP Following Federal Changes. ISACOIL.
