The federal government shutdown has compounded pressure on college campuses by interrupting SNAP benefits and delaying federal grant flows, leaving students and institutions scrambling. Campus leaders report mounting concerns about student food security, access to health services and frozen research payments; the Hope Center estimates more than a million college students were affected by the SNAP lapse. Advocacy groups and campus offices are urging colleges to expand emergency aid, extend food pantry hours and coordinate with alumni and advancement teams to provide short‑term relief. Federal court rulings have ordered the administration to tap contingency funds for SNAP, but courts warned distribution could take weeks, leaving many students in immediate need. Higher‑education administrators are now assessing contingency budgets and bolstering basic‑needs supports while pressing for quicker federal action. The operational strain underscores how federal funding interruptions ripple through student services, retention and campus health systems.