Federal Government Orders South Dakota to Freeze SNAP Payments Amid Republican-Led Shutdown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17th, 2025

Sioux Falls, SD – The South Dakota Department of Social Services has been instructed by the federal government to freeze Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments due to the ongoing federal government shutdown — a shutdown driven by Republicans in Congress who refuse to work with Democrats on a bipartisan funding solution.

This decision threatens the food security of nearly 75,000 South Dakotans, including thousands of children, seniors, and working parents. From 2019 to 2023, data show that 80% of SNAP participants in South Dakota were employed, highlighting that the program primarily supports hardworking families who struggle to make ends meet as costs rise.

“Let’s be clear — this crisis is entirely preventable,” said Dan Ahlers, Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party. “While Democrats are fighting to protect working families and keep costs down, Republicans in Congress are holding the country hostage to protect tax breaks for their wealthiest donors. It’s immoral to use hungry families as bargaining chips.”

The SNAP freeze will hit rural communities and low-wage workers especially hard. Many South Dakotans who rely on these benefits are grocery store clerks, healthcare aides, and other essential workers who keep our state running. The SNAP freeze prevents people from participating in local economies and impacts the small businesses in our communities who provide food -- which will ultimately impact everyone.

“South Dakotans know what hard work looks like — and they deserve a government that works just as hard for them,” Ahlers continued. “Democrats are ready to fund the government, pay our soldiers, and keep food on the table for working families. Republicans need to stop playing political games and do their jobs.”

The South Dakota Democratic Party urges federal and state leaders to act swiftly to restore SNAP payments and end the shutdown before more families suffer.

For questions, please contact Dan Ahlers, Executive Director of the SD Democratic Party at dan@sddp.org or 605-940-3071.

Paid for by the South Dakota Democratic Party | www.sddp.org