Minnesota officials are telling local governments to stop approving new applications for food stamps after receiving a warning from the federal government that funding for the program could dry up if the ongoing government shutdown doesn’t end by November.

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families has informed counties and tribal nations in the state that they couldn’t approve new SNAP applications after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, serves around 440,000 Minnesotans — approximately 8% of the state’s population.

“November’s SNAP benefits are at risk and may be unavailable if the shutdown continues,” the Department of Children, Youth, and Families said in a statement on its website.

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