With benefits expected to run out Saturday because of the government shutdown, Democratic leaders of 25 states allege that the USDA is required to keep providing funds.

The suit says the U.S. Department of Agriculture is "unlawfully suspending" food assistance benefits beginning Saturday during the federal government shutdown.

Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas joined 20+ states suing the USDA over halted SNAP food benefits during the shutdown, citing harm to 188,000 Kansans.

The Agriculture Department said it can't use contingency funds to pay for SNAP benefits, contradicting earlier guidance that the money was available.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will expire Saturday for millions of Americans across the nation due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This unprecedented crisis threatens to leave approximately 42 million people — including children,

The allocation of emergency funding is intended to help more than 440,000 Minnesotans who will go without federal and state nutrition assistance in November due to the shutdown.

The federal government shutdown continues as states scramble to fund food assistance programs for millions of Americans.

Food banks are expecting a flood of demand if the federal government shutdown continues. Roughly 1.3 million Ohioans could be left without monthly SNAP payments that help them purchase food starting Nov.