Oct. 31, 2025
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #278 declaring a state of emergency and a period of abnormal economic disruption in the state of Wisconsin due to the ongoing federal government shutdown and a lapse in FoodShare benefits, which are jeopardizing access to critical resources and programs that are necessary for the health, safety, well-being, and economic security of Wisconsinites. The governor’s executive order directs the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to begin enforcing against price gouging as nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites lose access to food assistance that ensures they can afford basic food and groceries and directs all executive branch state agencies to take any and all measures to respond, including reviewing and suspending any administrative rules that will hinder or delay the state’s response to the emergency.
Gov. Evers’ executive order comes as it remains unclear whether the Trump Administration plans to comply with two courts that opined earlier today that the Trump Administration likely must use available federal funding to continue providing at least partial benefits under SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), also known as FoodShare in Wisconsin. The program, which helps ensure nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites have access to food and groceries, is set to run out of funding tomorrow, November 1.
Unlike other states, the governor of Wisconsin does not have the power to appropriate funding by executive order or unilateral mechanisms that would continue funding FoodShare benefits or other resources to food pantries. Appropriating funding to help continue providing Wisconsin FoodShare benefits or support would require a bill to be passed by both houses of the Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Legislature, which have so far indicated they have no intention or plans to do so.
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies to take any and all necessary measures to ensure Wisconsin can address the state of emergency, including but not limited to prohibiting price gouging due to loss of FoodShare funding and continuing economic disruptions, ensuring relevant resources are readily available for Wisconsinites and the state, and state agencies can utilize every available tool and resource to support Wisconsinites through impacts of the federal government shutdown. The governor’s executive order can be found here.
“Wisconsinites and Americans across the country are now scrambling, trying to figure out how to feed their families. There’s no excuse for it, and this is a direct result of Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration, who’ve done nothing to help. As the courts agree, the Trump Administration could’ve stopped this from happening, but they didn’t, and now, Wisconsin’s kids, families, and seniors are worried about whether or when they’re going to eat next. This shouldn’t be happening. Period,” said Gov. Evers. “I have always promised to do the right thing, and my executive order will ensure our state agencies can do whatever they can within our power to help support kids, families, farmers, seniors, veterans, and so many others across our state, including cracking down on price gouging on everyday things folks need.
“But here’s the bottom line for me: Wisconsinites are sick and tired of the excuses Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration are making out in Washington. The federal government shutdown has gone on long enough—it has to end,” said Gov. Evers. “Republicans must start working across the aisle to end the federal government shutdown and extend tax credits that will lower the cost of healthcare so Wisconsinites and Americans across our country have economic stability and certainty. And the Trump Administration must take action and do so quickly to fix the damage they’ve caused and ensure folks can get basic food and groceries they need to survive without any further delay.”
The governor’s executive order declares that a period of abnormal economic disruption exists in the state of Wisconsin and prohibits price gouging. Consumers are encouraged to contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Bureau of Consumer Protection to file a complaint by visiting datcp.wi.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.
Gov. Evers also encourages Wisconsinites across the state to contact their congressional representatives and urge support for ending the federal government shutdown, extending key programs that help lower healthcare costs, and preventing hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites from going hungry. Wisconsinites can go to www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member and enter their address to find the contact information for their congressional representative and senators.
Any Wisconsinite who needs additional food or infant formula for their house or family can reach out to 211 for information and referrals to local services. Anyone can use 211 to get help by: Dialing 211 or 877-947-2211. Visiting their website at 211wisconsin.communityos.org. Through the website, people can search for services or chat with someone online who can help. Texting their ZIP code to 898211. DHS also encourages Medicaid and FoodShare members to make sure their phone number, email, and mailing address on file are up to date by going to the ACCESS.wi.gov website or the smartphone app. The department will announce some of the changes broadly, as appropriate, using channels like the Medicaid news webpage, FoodShare news webpage, social media, news releases, and email.
Importantly, please note that Wisconsin WIC is currently available, and based on the information available at this time, November benefits will also be available. During the government shutdown, WIC members can use their WIC benefits, attend WIC appointments, and do not need to take any action. If there are changes to the availability of WIC funding and benefits, DHS will let WIC members, partners, and providers know as soon as possible.
Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus members still have coverage to get the care and services they need. For updates, visit the Medicaid News page.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON GOV. EVERS’ FIGHT TO PROTECT FOODSHARE BENEFITS FOR WISCONSIN’S KIDS, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS
In Wisconsin, nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, rely on FoodShare, and due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, issuance of November benefits have been in limbo after the Trump Administration indicated it would not follow federal law—and its own past practice—and use billions of dollars in readily available federal funding to prevent millions of Americans from having to go hungry and lose access to food assistance due to the federal government shutdown.
Based on a recent Trump Administration directive, Wisconsin FoodShare, which is 100 percent funded by the federal government, remains in jeopardy and is set to end tomorrow, November 1, due to the federal government shutdown. In response, Gov. Evers last week urged the Trump Administration to take swift and immediate steps to use billions of dollars in federal funding already available to extend food assistance into November, preventing Wisconsinites from losing access to basic goods and groceries. In an October 22 letter to the Trump Administration, the governor urged the USDA to use powers already authorized under federal law to transfer existing and available federal funding to sustain SNAP benefits during the ongoing lapse in appropriations, which would enable Wisconsin FoodShare to continue to provide benefits into the month of November and delay nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, from losing access to basic food and groceries. The next day, more than 40 U.S. Senators, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), also urged the USDA to release the billions of dollars at their disposal to continue the food assistance program.
In addition to joining a coalition of governors and sending the Trump Administration a letter urging the release the billions of dollars at their disposal to continue the food assistance program, Gov. Evers earlier this week also announced Wisconsin would be joining a lawsuit aimed at requiring the Trump Administration to follow federal law—and its own past practice—by using readily available federal funding to prevent millions of Americans from having to go hungry and losing access to food assistance due to the federal government shutdown.
Today, a U.S. District Court judge in the case issued a written opinion clarifying that the Trump Administration is “required to use those Contingency Funds” for the SNAP program, as Gov. Evers has repeatedly said to the Trump Administration over the course of the last week. The judge ultimately stopped short of issuing a temporary restraining order or other legal orders requiring the Trump Administration to act immediately to do so, and instead, ordered the Trump Administration to respond by Mon., Nov. 3, 2025, as to whether the administration will use contingency funds or fully fund the program using contingency and other federal funding available.
In a different but related case in Rhode Island, in which Wisconsin is not a plaintiff, a judge verbally granted a temporary restraining order and ordered the USDA to distribute contingency funds. The judge directed the USDA to give a status report to the court on Mon., Nov. 3, 2025, and more details about the court’s ruling and the USDA’s response are expected at that time. It remains unclear whether the USDA will comply, and they have already filed a motion with the court asking for a written order due to the lack of clarity and “operational difficulties” involved with compliance.
Additionally, just hours before the two opinions were later released this afternoon, the Trump Administration refused to commit to releasing the funds even if they were ordered to do so by a court, according to reporting from CNN.
It is unclear as of now whether the Trump Administration plans to release the funding, when funding could be released, or how much funding will be available if the Trump Administration decides to release it. Until the Trump Administration releases the USDA funding and provides updated information to states regarding how to pay SNAP benefits, November FoodShare benefits will not be able to be paid. Benefits will continue to be paused in Wisconsin and across the nation as states await more information from the Trump Administration and the USDA. Unfortunately, because the federal government shutdown had not ended and the Trump Administration had not released any funding by the end of last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services was forced to announce that November benefits would be delayed in any case, based on how FoodShare payments are submitted and processed.
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