Local food pantries say demand at their sites is already rising as federal food assistance delays stretch into their fourth day, without a clear answer on when aid could resume in New York.

New Yorkers who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , known as SNAP, to afford groceries have been feeling insecure for weeks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would freeze SNAP payments beginning Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown.

Now it’s unclear when or whether participants will receive their benefits this month.

President Donald Trump said on social media Tuesday he will only pay benefits when the government reopens. But a White House spokesperson appeared to walk back that threat hours later, saying that the administration was “fully complying” wi

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