Federal Government Shutdown Update: What It Means for Food Assistance in Northwest North Carolina

A partial federal government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to begin Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina remains here for our community — providing food, support, and clear information during this period of uncertainty.

What Is Not Impacted

Even with a federal government shutdown in effect:

• SNAP (Food and Nutrition Services) benefits will continue and be paid on time.

• WIC benefits continue without interruption.

• TEFAP food and USDA commodities continue to flow.

These programs were funded for the current fiscal year through September 30, 2026, and are not immediately affected by the shutdown. Second Harvest’s food distribution across our 18-county region continues as normal, and our partner agencies remain open and serving neighbors.

What May Be Impacted: DHS Pay Disruptions

If the shutdown extends, some federal employees and contractors within the Department of Homeland Security may experience delayed, partial, or missed paychecks. Our region is home to thousands of federal workers, including TSA employees and many others working to support our region’s residents in a variety of ways.

Key dates include:

• February 18: Final full paycheck for DHS civilian employees

• February 27: Potential missed paycheck for U.S. Coast Guard members

• March 4: Partial paycheck for DHS civilian employees

• March 13: Potential missed mid-month Coast Guard paycheck

• March 18: First full missed paycheck for DHS civilian employees

For households already managing tight budgets, even temporary pay disruptions can create strain — affecting groceries, utilities, childcare, and transportation.

Second Harvest is prepared to respond if need increases and continues coordinating with partner agencies across our region.

Broader Context: Changes to SNAP Under H.R. 1

While the shutdown does not immediately affect SNAP benefits, recent federal changes under H.R. 1 are already reshaping access to food assistance across North Carolina.

• An estimated 232,000 North Carolinians may lose SNAP access completely or partially due to new eligibility and reporting requirements.
  

• Up to 600,000 children are at potential risk of losing access to school meals due to changes to automatic enrollment and the Community Eligibility Provision.
  

• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services projects a $48.8 million loss in state and local tax revenue and a reduction of approximately $558 million in state GDP in 2026.
  

• SNAP administrative costs are projected to increase significantly for both the state and counties.
  

• If error-rate penalties are implemented, North Carolina could be required to cover more than $420 million in SNAP benefit costs — a responsibility the state has never previously held.
  

These changes affect families, schools, local economies, and the systems that support food security across our state.

In moments of uncertainty — whether caused by policy shifts or temporary federal shutdowns — community-based networks like Second Harvest and our partners remain steady and responsive.

We Are Here

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina’s work to nourish our neighbors and strengthen our community continues.

If you are a federal employee or contractor and experience hardship due to delayed pay, Second Harvest Food Bank and our partner agencies across the region are here to help. You can contact Second Harvest at 336.784.5770 and locate food pantries near you using this Pantry Finder tool: https://www.secondharvestnwnc.org/find-help

We will continue to share updates as needed and remain focused on ensuring everyone in our region has access to the food they need to thrive.