Late Tuesday afternoon, Dallas County and Dallas City officials decided to make a big donation to help North Texans struggling to put food on the table.

Effects of the pause will be especially widespread in Texas, which has the highest population of food insecure people in the country.

AUSTIN, Texas — The need is growing as the government shutdown is set to become the longest in U.S. history. Drivers packed the parking lot of I.I. Nelson Field in northeast Austin Tuesday night as they waited to get turkey and food supplied by the Central Texas Food Bank.

Under a new rule tucked into Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, young adults aging out of foster care must work, volunteer or attend school for at least 80 hours per month to qualify for benefits.

If the federal shutdown continues past Oct. 27, funding for SNAP food assistance will run out in Texas, potentially leaving 3.5 million residents without benefits.

The Trump administration on Monday said it will restart SNAP food benefits. However, the payment amount will be cut substantially, and San Antonio residents may not see benefits return until early next week.

The Central Texas Food Bank expects to spend roughly four times its monthly budget to support Austin-area SNAP recipients.

Dallas College opens public food pantries Saturday amid SNAP benefits suspension in a North Texas Food Bank partnership