Letter Calls on Secretary Rollins to Use Contingency Funds, Available Authorities, and Enhanced Coordination with State Agencies to Protect Communities

 Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Chair of the Conference’s Children, Health, and Human Services Committee, urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to take steps to prevent a disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which is set to begin on November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. In a letter sent today, they warn that delayed benefits would immediately increase food insecurity among American families and children and strain local budgets while hurting retailers and neighborhood economies that rely on SNAP transactions.

They call on the Secretary to use all available resources, including the SNAP contingency fund and any additional administrative resources, to avoid delays and ensure residents receive benefits without interruption.

The letter reads in part:

“Cities across the country are already receiving reports from local food banks, schools, and community organizations predicting an immediate increase in need once these benefits are cut off.

“SNAP is not only a federal nutrition program—it is a critical local economic stabilizer. When benefits are delayed or reduced, city economies absorb the shock through increased food insecurity, higher demand on emergency food providers, and additional strain on municipal budgets and public health systems. Local grocery stores, small retailers, and farmers’ markets—many of which rely heavily on SNAP transactions—also experience revenue losses that ripple through our neighborhoods.”

The full text of the letter can be found below, and a copy is linked here.

October 23, 2025

The Honorable Brooke Rollins
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Rollins:

On behalf of the nation’s mayors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is deeply concerned that the impending disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—set to begin on November 1 due to the federal government shutdown—will affect millions of Americans. Cities across the country are already receiving reports from local food banks, schools, and community organizations predicting an immediate increase in need once these benefits are cut off.

SNAP is not only a federal nutrition program—it is a critical local economic stabilizer. When benefits are delayed or reduced, city economies absorb the shock through increased food insecurity, higher demand on emergency food providers, and additional strain on municipal budgets and public health systems. Local grocery stores, small retailers, and farmers’ markets—many of which rely heavily on SNAP transactions—also experience revenue losses that ripple through our neighborhoods.

As cities prepare for these consequences, the U.S. Department of Agriculture must act quickly to reduce the harm to millions of households. We encourage the Department to utilize all available resources, including the SNAP contingency fund and any additional administrative authorities, to ensure participants continue to receive benefits without interruption. Immediate coordination with governors and state agencies is also essential to prevent administrative failures that would worsen hunger and hardship at the local level.

America’s mayors are on the front lines of every social and economic challenge, from homelessness to public safety. The anticipated disruption to SNAP will not only increase poverty but also weaken ongoing city efforts to promote food security, improve public health, and support local economies.

We stand ready to work with USDA and other federal partners to safeguard this essential lifeline for our residents and prevent further hardship in our communities.

Sincerely,

Matt Tuerk
Mayor, City of Allentown
USCM Chair, Children Health and Human Services     

Tom Cochran
CEO and Executive Director
U.S. Conference of Mayors            

cc:       

The Honorable John Thune, Majority Leader, United States Senate
The Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader, United States Senate
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable Susan Collins, Chairwoman, Senate Appropriations Committee The Honorable Tom Cole, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Jack Reed, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee
Members of the House Agriculture Committee