VA declares state of emergency as SNAP benefits set to end during shutdown

A state of emergency was declared in Virginia Thursday due to concerns that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may run out in November. Governor Glenn Youngkin declared that Virginia is under a state of emergency due to potential SNAP shortage concerns. The declaration aims to protect hungry Virginians in response to the federal government shutdown now in its third week. The shutdown would cause SNAP benefits to run out starting Saturday, November 1. The announcement was made a day after state officials and advocates called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to access a $6 billion contingency fund that could keep SNAP benefits going for nearly 800,000 Virginians. A recent study said that Virginia was the 6th-most vulnerable U.S. state to a government shutdown.