The states argue the Trump administration should use an emergency fund for the programme, which helps about 40 million people.

Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or better known as SNAP - or food stamps - won’t be issued in November.

As the government shutdown continues, tens of millions of people who rely on the government for food assistance are set to see their benefits stop in November.

The states petitioned a federal court days after the Agriculture Dept. said it would not take emergency steps to provide aid during the government shutdown.

A coalition of states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from suspending food aid benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Officials from half the states and the District of Columbia are asking a federal judge to order the Department of Agriculture to provide food stamp benefits for November.

The same report found that 89.4% of SNAP recipients were U.S born citizens, meaning less than 11% of SNAP participants were foreign-born. Of the latter figure, 6.2% were naturalized citizens, 1.1% were refugees and 3.3% were other noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents and other eligible noncitizens.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning that the Trump administration cannot add more funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program unilaterally.

As November looms, states are trying to sort what options they can offer beneficiaries to fill the gap in food assistance. Reporters from the NPR Network are covering the impact of this potential lapse in states across the country.