On Friday, Guam's governor called lawmakers into an emergency special session as the federal shutdown forced the island to confront an impossible reality: federal money for food has stopped coming in. Bill 1 (4-s), introduced by Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, authorizes up to $13.1 million in local funds from Fiscal Year 2025’s excess revenues so the Department of Public Health and Social Services can continue paying SNAP and WIC benefits through November.

The governor stated, “Thousands of families are now left uncertain about whether they’ll have food next month. Every hour without action increases the risk that our manåmko’, our children, and our most vulnerable will go hungry."

The US Department of Agriculture notified DPHSS earlier this month that due to the federal shutdown, to pause all November disbursements for both programs until further notice.

Former senator and current deputy director of DPHSS, Amanda Shelton, said, “Due to the reality right now of the federal shutdown, we do not have enough funding within our budget to pay these out.”

Francine Salas, chief human services administrator for the Division of Public Welfare, shared that with little to no communication coming out of Washington, this is the next best step for the department.  “And how long will it last? We also can’t tell you. We’re just told the people who are supposed to be receiving on November 1, there will be a delay," she said.

SNAP serves more than 40,000 island residents, including about 14,000 households, and WIC supports another 6,200 women and children. “People are hungry and people need to get food to feed their family," Salas stressed.

Mike Gallo, program coordinator and acting administrator for the Bureau of Nutrition Services – WIC Program, said this local appropriation of $13.1M  will help prevent service interruptions – but only for a month.

“If federal funding is not released, there will be a critical situation that we’re going to have to deal with," he said.

According to DPHSS and the Bureau of Budget Management & Research's disbursement plan, half of the funds will be released by November 1, and the rest by November 15 should the shutdown persist. However, the unlikely chance of reimbursement had senators pausing.

Still, by the end of the session, the measure passed unanimously Friday night – a temporary fix to an ongoing crisis.

While this emergency measure shields families from immediate hunger, officials warn the longer the federal shutdown drags on, the more programs could be next, including Section 8 housing.

For now, Guam is paying the cost of this federal shutdown – with local dollars and community resolve.