Declaration of a State of Emergency in the State of Delaware Due to the Interruption of Federal SNAP Benefits

WHEREAS, more than 120,000 Delawareans rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) each month to help meet their most basic food needs;

WHEREAS, citing the ongoing federal government lapse in appropriations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has ceased benefits effective on November 1, 2025, placing 60,000 Delaware households at imminent risk of food insecurity;

WHEREAS, the interruption of federal SNAP benefits threatens the health, safety, and welfare of Delaware residents, particularly children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, and would strain local food banks and emergency feeding organizations already operating at capacity;

WHEREAS, I am authorized under Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code to declare a State of Emergency when an imminent threat endangers the public welfare, and I may direct the use of State resources to meet that threat;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MATTHEW MEYER, pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, do hereby declare a State of Emergency in Delaware. This State of Emergency shall be effective as of the date and time of its execution below and shall continue for 10 days unless renewed. The nature of the emergency is the interruption of federal SNAP benefits due to the federal funding lapse, and its geographic scope is statewide. Along with such other actions authorized by Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, I hereby specifically direct and authorize the following measures to ensure continued access to SNAP:

1. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, with the advisement of the Controller General, is directed to identify, allocate, and transfer funds as necessary from available sources to support the temporary availability of food benefits during the federal funding lapse.
2. The Department of Health and Social Services is authorized to use these funds to provide food benefit payments to all eligible Delaware households for the duration of this State of Emergency.