Councilmember Justin Jones Urges Citywide Response to Imminent Food Stamp Disruptions

Councilmember Justin Jones has called for a special City Council meeting as the government shutdown continues to threaten vulnerable residents.

More than 40 million food stamp beneficiaries could see their assistance cut or reduced or cut off completely if the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) make good on its threat to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress previously allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November.

The federal government shut down on October 1 as a result of congressional failure to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year, which began that day.

According to Jones, currently, at least one in eight Pasadena residents relies on this support.

Jones said the loss of this safety net would be devastating for many families and local businesses.

“The overall price of food continues to rise, and the cost of groceries has become a major source of stress for many Pasadena residents,” Jones said in a statement. “This issue cuts across neighborhoods and income levels, impacting a wide range of households in our city.

“Now we face the very real possibility that federal food subsidies, specifically the SNAP program, could be halted as soon as this weekend.

Jones has asked Mayor Victor Gordo to convene a special City Council meeting this week, bringing together local food banks, nonprofit leaders, philanthropic organizations, and city staff to coordinate a clear and compassionate response to rising food costs and prepare for the potential end of federal food aid.

“Every resident in Pasadena is affected by the rising cost of groceries,” Jones said. “We must act urgently, collaboratively, and with the resolve to protect the most vulnerable among us.”