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As the government shutdown continues, government agencies like the Social Security Administration and programs like Medicaid have been answering questions about whether the money Americans depend on will continue to flow.

Fortunately, for many families, until now there is one piece of the puzzle that has not been in doubt. School districts across the country have issued messages reassuring families that the National School Lunch Program, which provides free or low-cost nutritious meals to schoolchildren, will continue, for now.

November will be a different story.

More than 700,000 federal workers have been sent home as the government ceased operations. Among them are more than 43,000 workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the nation’s school nutrition programs. Typically, school districts pay for school lunches and are then reimbursed by the government. But without a funding agreement, the government can’t spend money on many programs it normally funds, such as school lunches.

In its shutdown contingency plan, the USDA says funding for school lunches is available through October. But advocates say it’s unclear what will happen next month.

“If schools don’t get reimbursed, the reality is they may not be able to continue these programs,” Clarissa Hayes, deputy director of child nutrition programs and policy at the Center for Food Research and Action, told News themezone.

The government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has no clear end in sight as Democrats and Republicans engage in a deadlock about cuts to healthcare. Neither side has any particular reason to withdraw: Democrats are still deal with political backlash since they last agreed to a Republican budget bill without demanding concessions, while Republicans are taking the opportunity to pursue government cuts in your agenda. But as the government remains deadlocked, how to feed hungry children becomes a pressing question.

“Not all schools can keep their programs afloat. October seems certain. November is a big question mark,” Hayes told News themezone.

To further complicate matters, some schools were already short of funds. ““We had heard from several state agencies that they did not have adequate funding to cover October meals,” Diane Pratt-Heavner, the said the communications director for the School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit organization that represents professionals who provide school meals, in a statement emailed to News themezone. After those states asked SNA for help, the organization was able to obtain USDA funding for them.

“As the government remains deadlocked, how to feed hungry children becomes a pressing issue.”

School lunches are a vital lifeline for children and their families. There is ample evidence that school lunches are an important resource and that well-nourished children achieve better academic results, enjoy better mental health and have fewer behavioral problems.

School lunches are especially crucial for students from families deal with food insecurity — according to the SNA, about 1 in 5 American children live in homes “without consistent access to adequate food.” Reliable school-provided meals can be a vital resource for children who would otherwise struggle to get enough food or foods to meet their nutritional needs.

Hayes does not foresee the complete cancellation of meals. “Schools will not completely end their food service,” he said. “But maybe they’ll streamline their menus and have fewer offerings.” More limited options could also mean more limited benefit: for some children, school meals are the only nutritious meals they receive each day.

Experts say there are some options for schools, should refunds be delayed as the shutdown drags on. Districts can withdraw funds from other programs that may not need to be funded immediately or depend on state agencies to obtain resources. But it’s easier said than done.

“In districts that have fewer resources, especially in rural areas, it could be a major challenge to know where they can find more resources,” Weadé James, senior director of K-12 policy at the Center for American Progress, told News themezone. “Not all districts can afford to have those reserves.”

Rural schools have unique financing challenges due to factors such as a smaller tax base and lower student enrollment, which increases the per-pupil cost to keep a school open. While schools get funding based on the number of students they enroll, many overhead costs, such as staff salaries and utilities, remain the same no matter how many students are in the building.

About 20% of K-12 public school students in the US attend rural schoolsaccording to CAP, and nearly half of those students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. In 2022, 17% of all rural school students (1.7 million) attended “high poverty” schools, where more than 75% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Partnering with food banks is another option, James said. “But food banks are also stretched thin.”

The threats to school lunches come at a time when there is broader fear of food insecurity across the country. Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut $500 million in USDA grants which normally went to support food banks. Also ended a pandemic-era program which partnered schools with local farms to provide free meals.

Then there’s the fact that the so-called Big and Beautiful Bill also calls for drastic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known colloquially as food stamps, which means there may soon be an influx of more people who will need food banks to make ends meet.

“It’s a perfect storm,” Hayes said. “Historic cuts to SNAP are coming. Food banks are bringing in a lot more people.” Local governments too preparing for a surge of federal workers use food banks to help feed their families while they are left without pay.

Schools could also turn to local farms for help with supplemental school lunch, but the entire agricultural industry has been suffering from Trump’s policies. “It’s going to make it even harder for school districts to partner with local farms when that industry itself is struggling,” James said.

Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group

Much of the uncertainty facing school lunch programs could be resolved, of course, if Congress passed a funding bill and reopened the government. But there are few signs that lawmakers are close to achieving it.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has already saying that this could be the longest government shutdown in history, surpassing the previous longest, the 35-day shutdown that stretched from late 2018 to early 2019. During that shutdown, there were no disruptions to school lunches because the USDA had backup funds ready to go.

But this Trump term has been significantly different. The administration has spent the past nine months trampling rules, breaking tradition and illegally withholding funds.

It wouldn’t be the first time public schools have had to struggle under the Trump administration. In June, the federal government sent letters to all states notifying them that the Department of Education would be freeze 7 billion dollars in funding to public schools while ensuring schools complied with Trump’s mandates. The freeze caused schools to panic, unsure whether they would have to lay off staff or cut critical programs for students. After a protest and legal threats, the administration released the funds.

During this shutdown, Trump has ensured that his priorities, such as immigration enforcement and trade policies, can continue despite the lack of funding. But there are no signs that the USDA and its food programs will fall under that umbrella.

Right now, uncertainty is the only certainty. “The question is, what happens if [the shutdown] Does it continue until November? Hayes said. “Many of us are not very sure.”

It’s a hard pill to swallow. And it may be the only thing some children receive.