Experts warned that Americans face a "tough time" as food banks are unlikely to be able to meet the incoming demand.

The Agriculture Department said Friday it can’t use a special reserve fund to pay food stamp benefits during the partial government shutdown because the money is meant to be used when appropriations fall short,

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York was facing soaring demand before the shutdown. Cuts to food stamps could push it to the limit.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is rejecting the idea of using roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep food aid flowing into November amid the government shutdown, according to a Department of Agriculture memo that surfaced Friday. States temporarily covering the cost of benefits next month will not be reimbursed, the memo says.

Federal food programs, including SNAP and WIC, face funding shortages affecting over 42 million people as the government shutdown continues.

Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts residents who get SNAP benefits won't see funding in November due to the government shutdown. What to know

About 680,000 Maryland residents — roughly 40% of whom are children — rely on SNAP to supplement their food budgets.

People who rely on the federal food assistance program might not receive their benefits for the month of November because of the ongoing government shutdown.