The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning that the Trump administration cannot add more funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program unilaterally.

Food banks and pantries are preparing for a surge in demand if federal food aid is paused this weekend from the government shutdown.

The federal government is pausing SNAP benefits amid the shutdown. Food pantries can fill the gap — for now, the Idaho Foodbank said.

If the continuing resolution or any other funding measures are not passed, funding for SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps as it's commonly called — will run out on Nov. 1.

Food pantries across Stanislaus County say they're already seeing an increase in demand as federal SNAP food stamp benefits are set to expire this week.

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.

Advocates say with the SNAP suspension, Alabamians “are being put in a position where we are being forced to choose between health care and food,” said Carol Gundlach, senior policy analyst at Alabama Arise, a nonprofit that advocates for policies to improve poverty in the state.

The ongoing federal government shutdown is sparking new fears for people already waiting weeks for food assistance in Georgia. On Friday, Georgia and other states warned residents who rely on SNAP and other food stamp programs that the benefits will not be paid out next month due to "insufficient funding.