Virginia Declares Emergency to Protect 850,000 SNAP Recipients

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Oct. 23 to prevent a lapse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that his administration says would leave more than 850,000 Virginians without assistance when federal funds are set to run out on Nov. 1 amid the continuing federal government shutdown. The declaration allows the Commonwealth to use emergency sum sufficient funds to maintain food benefits if federal disbursements stop. Youngkin blamed the shutdown on Democrats and urged Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to support a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. Federal guidance and reporting indicate November SNAP payments have been paused nationwide and other states have warned of imminent disruptions, while food‑bank leaders say charitable networks cannot make up the shortfall. Democrats and some congressional leaders fault House GOP negotiations and stalled talks over Affordable Care Act subsidies for prolonging the shutdown, and advocates have pointed to contingency legislation and unused USDA funds as partial fixes. Details remain sparse about the mechanics and duration of Virginia’s state‑funded benefits as the shutdown enters its third week and prompts emergency actions in multiple states.