Catholic bishops plead with lawmakers to end shutdown, protect SNAP

U.S. Catholic bishops urged lawmakers on Oct. 28, 2025, to find a solution to end the government shutdown. / Credit: usarmyband, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 29, 2025 / 14:21 pm (CNA).

Catholic bishops in the United States are urging federal lawmakers to find a solution that opens the government and saves the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“The U.S. bishops are deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted,” Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said in a statement on Oct. 28.

The government shutdown reached its 29th day on Oct. 29 as lawmakers negotiated over extending taxpayer subsidies that lower health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act and providing funding for a wall on the southern border, food assistance, and military pay. Most of the 2.9 million civilian federal workers are not receiving paychecks, and benefits for SNAP recipients will cease on Nov. 1 unless some action is taken to provide funding.

“This would be catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table and places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward,” Broglio said. “This consequence is unjust and unacceptable.”

About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, and some Catholic charitable organizations have expressed concern that any halt to the program would be difficult to remedy with simply private charity.

“The U.S. bishops have consistently advocated for public policies that support those in need,” Broglio said. “I urgently plead with lawmakers and the administration to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that these lifesaving programs are funded and to pass a government funding bill to end the government shutdown as quickly as possible.”

Archbishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore — the first American diocese — also issued a statement on Tuesday, reminding the people of Maryland that archdiocesan ministries “remain open and active, providing care and support across central and western Maryland.”

“I encourage anyone in need to reach out to these ministries without hesitation. No one should face this hardship alone,” the archbishop said.

Lori said shutdowns “have far-reaching consequences,” especially for “the most vulnerable among us — families living paycheck to paycheck, parents worried about feeding their children, and seniors already balancing the cost of medications and groceries.”

“When vital government services are interrupted or delayed, the result is more than an inconvenience — it can mean hunger, anxiety, and hardship for our brothers and sisters in need,” the archbishop said.

As of Wednesday, 25 states sued President Donald Trump’s administration over the possible halt to SNAP benefits. When asked about funding for SNAP on Wednesday, Trump said “we’re going to get it done.” No action has yet been taken.