The federal shutdown is reverberating on campuses: college food pantries are seeing surging demand as federal food‑aid payments remain uncertain, and student veterans face disrupted educational opportunities from policy changes and funding cuts. At California State University, Sacramento, the Basic Needs Resource Center reports heavy weekly usage as students worry federal assistance is in limbo. Separately, veteran advocates say recent federal policy moves and staff reductions threaten GI Bill and other supports, leaving student veterans with precarious access to benefits and services. Administrators and campus support offices are scrambling to fill gaps with emergency funds and community resources. The twin pressures show how federal fiscal and policy instability translates quickly into student basic‑needs crises, particularly for low‑income and veteran learners.