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Friends,
Government shutdowns create uncertainty for families, small businesses, and local agencies — and they remind us how critical it is to keep essential services stable. Here in House District 31, nearly 9,000 residents — about 12.6% of our community — rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help make ends meet.
These are not abstract numbers — they represent our neighbors, families, and seniors who depend on this support to put food on the table. As your state representative, I’ll continue advocating for responsible, transparent leadership that prioritizes maintaining critical services and ensures Oregon families aren’t left behind during federal disruptions.
Below is an overview of where things stand with the shutdown and how programs like SNAP are being protected in the near term.
Thank you,
Representative Darcey Edwards
House District 31
Congress has not yet reached an agreement to fund the federal government, resulting in a temporary shutdown. While negotiations continue, several key programs and services remain in place, including Medicare, Social Security, and veterans’ care.
Of the roughly 30,000 federal employees in Oregon:
- About one-third continue to work as essential personnel in roles that protect public safety, such as air traffic control, border protection, and law enforcement.
- Another third are unaffected because they work for self-funded agencies like the U.S. Postal Service.
- The remaining third are temporarily furloughed until funding is restored.
This shutdown has real impacts on Oregon families and communities that rely on steady federal operations — from food assistance to public health to local forest management.
More than 757,000 Oregonians — about one in six residents — receive food assistance through SNAP. The average benefit is approximately $300 per household per month, or about $6 per person per day.
Federal judges recently ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue funding SNAP during the shutdown using existing contingency reserves, ensuring benefits will not be interrupted in the immediate term. States, including Oregon, also have limited emergency funds available to help bridge any potential gap.
Last week, Governor Tina Kotek declared a 60-day food security emergency and directed the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to provide $5 million in additional support to food banks across the state. This funding represents roughly one day of Oregon’s total monthly SNAP benefits, which amount to about $140 million statewide.
In addition to temporary concerns caused by the shutdown, new federal changes to SNAP (as part of H.R. 1) will begin taking effect in November 2025 and phase in through 2026. These include new eligibility and work-requirement rules that may affect certain adults without dependents, older adults, immigrants, and rural residents.
ODHS will notify affected households in mid-October, and the first changes took effect on November 1, 2025. No action is required from recipients — benefits will be adjusted automatically.
Older adults and people with disabilities: Connect with the Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC) for help finding government and community resources. Call 1-855-673-2372 or visit www.adrcoforegon.
If you or an organization you support are hosting a food drive, clothing drive, or another event to help our neighbors this season, I’d love to highlight it in a future newsletter and share it with our statewide network.
Please send details to sam.evans@oregonlegislature.gov so we can help spread the word and celebrate the good work happening across Oregon.
Please consider giving to the Columbia Pacific Food Bank's Thanksgiving Food Drive now through November 14!
Representative Darcey Edwards
House District 31
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1431
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-374, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.DarceyEdwards@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/edwards
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