JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — State Rep. Angie Nixon (D – Jacksonville) warned Monday that if the federal shutdown persists past November 1, nearly three million people in Florida, including many children, might lose their food aid.

Nixon, a mother herself, expressed her concerns by saying, “I have a five-year-old, along with four other children, and I’ve seen how they struggle when they go to school without eating. It’s crucial that we prevent hunger across Florida.”

Amidst increasing demand, food banks throughout Florida are experiencing shortages. Nixon relayed a conversation with Feeding Northeast Florida, which confirmed a lack of resources to support those relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

She is calling on Governor Ron DeSantis to enact a state of emergency and allocate emergency funds to assist affected families. Other states like Virginia and Hawaii have already taken similar measures.

Nixon remarked, “If he managed to create a makeshift tent city in the Everglades, he should certainly be able to address this urgent need.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on Meet the Press, recently called on leaders to reopen the government as well.

“We’re starting to eat in the muscle here,” Bessent said. “This is starting to affect travel. It’s starting to affect the economy.”

Nixon has launched a petition encouraging residents to urge state leadership to act before SNAP benefits run out for many families.

“At the end of the day, these are children,” she said. “These are families that are struggling. He definitely needs to do the right thing.”

Efforts to reach the governor’s office for comment were unsuccessful Monday evening. The Florida Department of Children and Families warns that November SNAP benefits may be delayed or unfunded until federal funding is restored.