SNAP recipients threaten to loot if food stamps are cut Nov. 1: ‘Stay the f–k out of my way
Millions of Americans who rely on food stamps are panicking and furious as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faces a possible shutdown on November 1 and some have taken to TikTok to issue angry warnings and even threats to loot grocery stores if their benefits don’t arrive.
In a series of viral videos, SNAP recipients voiced their outrage after receiving text alerts saying their November payments could be halted due to the ongoing government shutdown. One woman, visibly upset, warned viewers to “stay out of my way in these stores because I’m walking out with carts and I’m not paying for anything.” Another user added, “If they take food stamps away, I’m going to Walmart, grabbing whatever I want, and walking out. I’m not paying for a damn thing.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps around 42 million Americans roughly one in every eight people buy groceries. The program distributes an average of $350 per household each month on debit-style cards that can be used in supermarkets and convenience stores. But this lifeline could be severed next month after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement.
The Senate recently voted 54-45 against a GOP-backed funding bill that would have reopened the government, marking the 13th failed attempt to end the shutdown. Following the vote, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent out text alerts to SNAP beneficiaries, warning them that benefits would not be paid out in November.
The news triggered a flood of emotional reactions online. Many TikTok users posted furious videos, some threatening to “take matters into their own hands” if the program is halted. One man vowed to “steal like there’s no tomorrow,” while another woman shouted, “Trump done messed up. He’s talking about people not getting food stamps in November and December. He better get ready, because it’s about to go down.”
Some users blamed President Donald Trump directly for the crisis, accusing his administration of ignoring struggling families while focusing on foreign policy and political battles in Washington. Others warned that cutting off benefits could push desperate people into chaos. “You don’t play with people’s food stamps,” one user said. “Get ready, because people are about to start taking what they need.”
SNAP benefits have never been suspended before, even during previous shutdowns. In 2018 and 2019, the USDA found ways to distribute payments early to avoid disruptions. But this time, the agency said it will not use its $6 billion in contingency funds to keep the program running for another month.
The Trump administration has argued that it needs to conserve those funds for other essential nutrition programs, such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), which helps mothers and young children.
In response, 26 states, including New York, have filed a lawsuit against the USDA, accusing it of illegally withholding funds and demanding an immediate injunction to restore the benefits. New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned the administration’s move, saying, “SNAP is one of the nation’s most effective tools to fight hunger, and the USDA has the money to keep it running. There is no excuse to abandon families who depend on food stamps as a lifeline.”
If the cutoff goes ahead, November 1 will mark the first time in SNAP’s 60-year history that benefits have been stopped due to a government shutdown — a moment that could push millions of Americans to the brink of food insecurity and social unrest.
