Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, declared a state of emergency Thursday to provide emergency hunger relief to Virginians as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are poised to run out of funding Nov. 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Youngkin blamed Democrats for the loss of SNAP funding and the shutdown that began Oct. 1. Democrats are demanding an extension to Affordable Care Act subsidies before they expire on Dec. 31. They also want to reverse Medicaid cuts implemented in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Republicans, however, have insisted that the health care provisions be debated and kept separate from the spending bill to re-open government, causing an impasse.
“The Democrat Shutdown will cause SNAP benefits to run out for over 850,000 Virginians in need starting November 1, 2025,” Youngkin said in a press release. “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,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin said his order is only necessary because of the “shamelessness of Congressional Democrats,” including those in the Virginia Delegation.
“I once again call on Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine to end this nonsense and vote to pass a clean CR,” Youngkin said, referring to a “clean” extension that would not include additional provision, such as those Democrats are seeking. “The Commonwealth will provide food benefits until Congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics.”
Declaring a state of emergency allows Youngkin to expend emergency funds to continue paying for nutrition programs while the government shutdown continues.
The announcement comes less than two weeks before the Virginia Governor’s race to replace Youngkin, which polls show heavily favor Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger over her Republican opponent and second-in-charge Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
Before the beginning of the shutdown, a PBS/NPR/Marist Poll in late September showed 38% of respondents blamed Republicans for the impasse, 31% said both sides were to blame, while 27% of respondents blamed the Democrats.
When asked how they feel about how President Donald Trump has performed his duties, 41% of respondents approved, 6% were unsure, while 53% disapproved.
Despite the shutdown now becoming the second-longest in history, Trump’s approval rating has increased slightly, with Newsweek tracker showing a 45% approval and 51% disapproval.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates cuts to Medicaid under Trump’s sweeping tax package and subsidies expiring under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could result in more than 13 million Americans losing their health insurance by 2034. Approximately 700,000 are set to lose their health care coverage in 2024, according to Newsweek.
That disproportionately affects low-income families, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
On Thursday, Trump said he would not meet with Democratic leaders until the shutdown comes to an end and is insisting that ACA provisions be addressed separately.
Approximately 750,000 federal workers are currently furloughed, while federal workers deemed essential, such as military and federal law enforcement, must continue work without pay.
