WSR 25-21-103
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed October 17, 2025, 6:17 p.m., effective October 17, 2025, 6:17 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: The department of social and health services is adopting WAC 388-445-0001 Federal government shutdown.
This rule will temporarily supersede rules related to the following programs if federal funding is not appropriated beyond October 31, 2025: Basic food, state-funded food assistance program (FAP), Washington combined application project (WASHCAP), transitional food assistance (TFA), and basic food employment and training (BFET).
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 388-445-0001.
Other Authority: P.L. 119-4.
Under RCW
34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: Under P.L. 119-4, federal funding for food benefits and activities ends September 30, 2025; however, the United States Department of Agriculture allowed food benefits and activities to continue through October 31, 2025. Unless funding is appropriated beyond October 31, 2025, the Washington basic food program, FAP, WASHCAP, TFA, and BFET will all cease to operate until federal appropriation is received.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 17, 2025.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
SHS-5113.3
Federal Government Shutdown
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-445-0001Federal government shutdown.
What happens to food assistance programs if federal funding is not authorized beyond September 30, 2025?
(1) Under Public Law 119-4, federal funding for food benefits and activities under the supplemental nutrition assistance program expired at 12:00:00 am on October 1, 2025.
(2) If federal funding for food assistance benefits and activities is not appropriated beyond October 31, 2025, the following programs will end after October 31, 2025:
(a) Washington basic food program as described in WAC 388-400-0040;
(b) State-funded food assistance program as described in WAC 388-400-0050;
(c) Washington combined application project as described in chapter 388-492 WAC;
(d) Transitional food assistance as described in chapter 388-489 WAC; and
(e) The basic food employment and training program as described in WAC 388-444-0015.
(3) If you apply for food assistance on or after October 16, 2025, and are determined eligible, you may receive food assistance for October 2025 but you will not be issued a combined allotment for November 2025 as described in WAC 388-412-0015(5).
(4) This rule shall supersede all additional rules in regard to programs listed in subsections (2)(a) through (2)(e) of this section.