‘Truly unprecedented’: Virginia lawmakers, advocates concerned SNAP funding may run out in November

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With the federal government shutdown now in its third week with no end in sight, Virginia lawmakers and advocates are concerned that funding for food assistance may run out in November.

“SNAP benefits for November won’t be issued if the federal government shutdown continues past Oct. 27,” warned Texas’ Health and Human Services Department.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), along with Sen. Danica Roem (D-Prince William) and advocates and Virginians, called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to tap into a $6 billion contingency fund that could keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits going for nearly 800,000 Virginians.

Roem said she recently received an inquiry from a Manassas constituent regarding the fate of SNAP benefits come November.

"What level of certainty do we have right now? November's coming up in 10 days," Roem said. "I don't have an answer right now because we don't know what Congress is going to do. We don't know what the president's going to do right now."

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Roem said the lack of clarity is a real problem.

"Our families who are hungry need certainty," she said. "Our families who have disabilities need certainty. Our constituents need certainty. That's who we're here to serve."

The USDA’s shutdown contingency plan allows the agency to tap into reserve funding to keep SNAP operating if the federal government remains shut for longer than a month. However, it would cost about $8 billion to keep benefits for all recipients in November -- and there's only about two-thirds of that amount currently available in the SNAP contingency fund.

According to Emily Moore, a senior policy analyst of Voices for Virginia’s Children, both the current shutdown and the rising food prices have created what she calls "a perfect storm." She said this increases the risk of hunger for hundreds of thousands of Virginia families and their children.

"This situation is truly unprecedented," Moore said. "Without action, the consequences of this could be devastating. On average, each SNAP household in Virginia receives about $170 per month, [which] keeps their families fed and keeps local grocery stores, farmers and food suppliers afloat."

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Two Richmond residents spoke out on Wednesday, emphasizing how important SNAP is for keeping them fed.

Ariele Robinson, a Richmond resident who works three jobs, called on the federal government to do everything it can to ensure it protects SNAP benefits.

Robinson said that she moved to public housing to save money and that she splits rent with her mother. She emphasized that she still does not have enough money to get by -- even when she does receive her SNAP benefits.

Struggling and disabled veterans, like Richmond resident Lakisha Cain's 65-year-old uncle's caregiver, would also feel the strain if SNAP benefits are delayed. More than that, the impact on children would be costly.

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Like many veterans and senior programs, children also rely on SNAP benefits, which include free and reduced lunch at school. Per Roem, if SNAP enrollments go down, it can decrease the money available for students' free and reduced lunch the next year.

"You have people who are then beginning to subsist on woefully inadequate meals," Roem said. "This is just by the way, another reason why we need universal free school breakfast and lunch everywhere."

A reporter urged lawmakers like McClellan and Roem to respond to comments Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) reportedly shared on Bloomberg News ahead of Wednesday's news conference. The reporter said Youngkin called on Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to pass the continuing resolution to end the government shutdown.

McClellan claimed that Youngkin bowed down to Trump rather than standing up for Virginians.

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"I think Governor Youngkin, as usual, is just cheering on the Trump administration and bowing down to whatever they want to do rather than fighting for Virginians," McClellan said.

A deadline to comply with President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is approaching in November, which is expected to result in the loss of benefits for certain types of SNAP recipients.

"This is my message to Virginians: We are fighting for you, not [for] billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk," McClellan said, further acknowledging how severe these cuts will be for everyday American citizens, including veterans, senior programs and federal workers.

This comes as a recent study called Virginia the 6th-most vulnerable U.S. state to a government shutdown.