How the 2025 U.S. Government Shutdown Hurts Children — at Home and Around the World

The 2025 U.S. government shutdown, combined with $4.9 billion in foreign aid cuts, is putting children at risk both domestically and globally.

Save the Children and our advocacy partner, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), warn that the ongoing 2025 U.S. government shutdown threatens programs children depend on for nutrition, education, and safety, and reduces U.S. leadership in protecting children worldwide. Here’s how:

1. Millions of Kids Could Lose Access to Food and Care at Home

Millions of families are set to lose a vital source of food as funding is stopped for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown and elected officials’ failure so far to find alternative solutions to keep these programs funded.

• More than 42 million Americans, including nearly 14 million children, rely on SNAP to help put food on the table every month. 
• In rural communities, 1 in 5 kids already don't get enough to eat.

Save the Children is mounting an emergency response to provide food and other vital support to those impacted by the disruption to SNAP funding. We are rushing emergency assistance to the most vulnerable rural communities in 15 states, where food insecurity is higher than in the country as a whole and there are fewer resources to fall back on. We’re providing emergency assistance to help families cope through the disruption—as well as essentials for children, such as diapers, wipes and more.

Give today to help your neighbors in need—and let them know they’re not alone.

2. Global Investments in Children Are Being Stripped Away

Cuts to U.S. foreign assistance reduce clean water, food, healthcare, and protection for children in crisis worldwide.

The $4.9 billion rescission in U.S. foreign assistance eliminates vital programs that help children and families survive and thrive. This follows a $9.4 billion reduction earlier in 2025, including $1.3 billion in humanitarian aid.

Without these funds, children face:

• Greater risk of hunger and malnutrition 
• Reduced access to clean water and health care 
• Heightened vulnerability to violence, exploitation, and instability

Investments in international aid also promote peace and stability—funding cuts threaten the U.S.’s ability to lead in protecting children globally.

3. America's Leadership—and Children's Futures—Are Undermined

The shutdown weakens America’s ability to protect children and invest in their safety, education, and opportunity.

“U.S. leadership in protecting children has always been about more than immediate relief,” said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy at Save the Children. “It has been about safety, security and opportunity. The current shutdown, coupled with the loss of foreign assistance, jeopardizes achieving those goals and weakens our ability to deliver for children at home and abroad.”

By stalling domestic programs that keep kids healthy and rescinding funding that supports children overseas, leaders are weakening America’s ability to deliver for children everywhere.

Save the Children Chief Policy Officer Christy Gleason adds: “A government shutdown puts kids at risk, whether by stalling programs that feed children here at home or rescinding funding that supports them overseas. The result is the same: Children, and our nation, lose their chance to thrive. Investing in kids is investing in America’s future. Now more than ever, we must put children first."

Updated November 5, 2025