Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in Virginia in order to provide food to Virginians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will cease on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown.
The governor’s office said that the state of emergency declaration allows him to expend emergency funds to protect the health, welfare and safety of Virginians.
Youngkin blamed Democrats for the federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1.
“The Democrat Shutdown will cause SNAP benefits to run out for over 850,000 Virginians in need starting November 1, 2025,” Youngkin wrote. “I refuse to let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ by Congressional Democrats. I am declaring a State of Emergency due to the Democrat Shutdown to protect hungry Virginians in need.”
Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but they need a few Democratic votes in the Senate to advance legislation to fund the government. Democrats are holding out to protect parts of the Affordable Care Act.
“The Commonwealth will provide food benefits until Congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics,” Youngkin continued.
Virginia’s United States Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, responded to Youngkin with a joint statement.
“Republicans still control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives,’ they wrote. “They have, quite literally, the power to stop this. They also had the power to defend nutrition benefits earlier this year, but chose to sell out working families as part of the Big Ugly Law in order to offset the cost of tax breaks for billionaires.”