Federal Government Shutdown
Federal Government Shutdown: What It Means for You
As of October 1, 2025, the federal government has shut down because Congress did not pass a budget for the new fiscal year. Many federal programs are paused or reduced, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed. This shutdown affects several programs run by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) that rely on federal funding. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more serious the impacts may become.
NCDHHS is doing everything it can to reduce the impact on North Carolinians. The department understands the uncertainty can be very concerning for individuals and families that rely on these programs. We are committed to being transparent and will share the latest updates on this page as we learn more. There is still limited information from the federal government about when the shutdown will end or how funding will be handled going forward.
Latest Updates - October 17, 2025
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low‑income families buy groceries. If you rely on SNAP, your benefits will continue through October. However, due to the federal government shutdown, there may be disruptions in November if the shutdown continues. NCDHHS recently received a letter from the USDA warning of possible impacts, but have not yet been told exactly what that means for North Carolina.
- SNAP in NC: There are 1.4 million people in North Carolina that rely on SNAP to help put nutritious and healthy food on the table. More than 700,000 households receive benefits each month and 4 in 5 families participating in SNAP in North Carolina have either a child, senior or an adult with a disability. As of Oct. 12, there are approximately 582,569 children in North Carolina that rely on SNAP.
- SNAP in NC: There are 1.4 million people in North Carolina that rely on SNAP to help put nutritious and healthy food on the table. More than 700,000 households receive benefits each month and 4 in 5 families participating in SNAP in North Carolina have either a child, senior or an adult with a disability. As of Oct. 12, there are approximately 582,569 children in North Carolina that rely on SNAP.
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food, formula, nutrition education and support for pregnant and new mothers and young children. If you rely on he WIC program, you will continue receiving benefits through October. While it is possible that the federal government will allocate funds to extend these benefits, NCDHHS does not have funding to maintain benefits past early November and no certainty that additional funds will be received.
- WIC in NC: WIC currently serves approximately 262,000 women, infants and children who rely on the program for access to nutritious food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and health care referrals.
- WIC in NC: WIC currently serves approximately 262,000 women, infants and children who rely on the program for access to nutritious food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and health care referrals.
- Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps low-income households pay for home energy costs. LIEAP begins operations in December to a priority population that includes those age 60 or older, people living with a disability and receiving services from the Division of Aging, and those receiving Food and Nutrition Services. If you are part of this priority group and received a LIEAP payment last year, you will be automatically approved again this year. If the government shutdown continues, no additional funding will be available, and new applications will not be accepted. Only those who are pre-approved will receive assistance.
- LIEAP in NC: This program provides heating, crisis and weatherization assistance. LIEAP serves more than 126,000 households in North Carolina.
News Releases
Oct. 8: Impacts of the Federal Government Shutdown in North Carolina