Tribes Warn About SNAP Funding
The Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation are warning that the ongoing federal government shutdown could interrupt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as early as November, putting hundreds of Fort Peck households at immediate risk of food insecurity.
“Our most vulnerable people will suffer first and worst if SNAP is disrupted,” sad chairman Justin Gray Hawk Sr. “We are preparing local relief, but this is fundamentally a federal obligation. We are calling on Congress to act now so no child, elder, or working family on Fort Peck — or anywhere in Montana — has to worry about their next meal.”
SNAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered in Montana by DPHHS. As of September 2025, 77,679 Montanans — about 7 percent of the state’s populationparticipate in SNAP. Any delay in November benefit issuance would immediately strain household budgets across the Hi-Line and increase demand on local food supports.
Tribal Actions Under Way
• Daily coordination with Montana DPHHS and USDA Food and Nutrition Service for status updates and contingency planning.
• Emergency food preparations through the Tribes’ Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Elderly Program, and community partners.
• Public information to ensure families understand the situation and know where to seek assistance.
• Formal letters sent to Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana’s Congressional Delegation (Sen. Tim Sheehy, Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Ryan Zinke) urging immediate federal appropriations to sustain SNAP.
Guidance for Fort Peck Families
• Plan ahead: Use October SNAP benefits carefully in case of November delays.
• Keep receipts: Save grocery receipts in case replacement benefits are authorized later.
• Stay informed: Watch the Fort Peck Tribes’ official channels and KYYZ Radio for updates.
• Need help? Fort Peck Tribal Social Services: 406768-5300 I FDPIR Office: 406768-3498.
