Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency to ensure that more than 850,000 residents continue receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as the federal government shutdown threatens to halt funding on November 1. The move positions Virginia as one of the first states to take independent action to shield vulnerable families from the fallout of the budget impasse in Washington.
The declaration, issued on October 23, authorizes the governor to draw on state resources under Article V of the Virginia Constitution and §§ 44-146.17 and 44-146.28 of the Code of Virginia. These provisions allow the governor to regulate essential commodities and allocate state treasury funds for emergency relief when federal programs are disrupted. Youngkin said the state will use part of its $10 billion budget surplus to cover the estimated $150 million monthly cost of SNAP benefits if federal funding lapses.
The announcement follows a warning from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who stated on October 16 that “there are not enough funds to provide SNAP for 40 million Americans come Nov. 1.” Food banks across Virginia had already raised alarms, cautioning that they could not absorb the surge in demand if benefits were suspended.
“The Commonwealth will provide food benefits until Congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics,” Youngkin said in a press release, framing the shutdown as a partisan standoff.
The federal government has been closed since October 1, after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending package. The deadlock centers on disputes over funding for the Affordable Care Act and proposed Medicaid cuts. While Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has introduced a bill to fund SNAP during the shutdown, it has yet to receive a vote. No other states have announced similar emergency measures to continue SNAP funding independently.
The shutdown, now in its fourth week, has already left federal workers without paychecks and threatens to deepen food insecurity nationwide. Analysts warn that if the impasse continues, millions of low-income households could face severe hardship, with ripple effects on local economies and social services.
Virginia’s emergency plan underscores the growing pressure on state governments to step in as Washington remains gridlocked. For families relying on SNAP, the governor’s action provides temporary relief — but the long-term solution hinges on Congress reaching a deal to reopen the federal government.
Sources: WTVR; WVNS; Yahoo News; USA Today; Governor of Virginia Press Release.
Governor Glenn Youngkin Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
