Over 600,000 Hoosiers are at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits starting November 1 because of the government shutdown. At the same time, Indiana’s farmers — who feed this state — are facing massive uncertainty due to trade instability, rising costs, and now a collapsing local market for food.

Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois just announced a $20 million emergency plan to support both food access and farmers. Indiana should follow suit.

This shutdown is not the fault of Indiana’s working families or our farm communities. Yet they’re the ones being asked to pay the price. Without action, food banks will be overwhelmed, families will go hungry, and farm income will suffer as demand dries up.

This isn't about left or right — it's about standing up for Hoosiers when Washington won’t.

We call on Governor Mike Braun to:

• Declare a statewide emergency for food access and agricultural stability
• Allocate state funds to support local food banks and pantry networks
• Provide temporary economic relief to farmers losing local markets during the shutdown

Hoosiers are known for looking out for our neighbors. We can’t afford to let D.C. gridlock bring Indiana’s food system to its knees. The time to act is now.