In response to the ongoing federal givernment shutdown Virfinua Giv. Glen Youngkin has declared a state of emergency for insufficent SNAP funds this coming November. Here is what you should know:
The declaration was issued because the federal shutdown threatened the continuation of SNAP benefits in Virginia, with more than 850,000 Virginians reliant on the program.
The emergency status allows the state to “expend emergency funds … to protect the health, welfare and safety of Virginians” in this situation.
The governor positioned the move as necessary because of the shutdown, saying: “I refuse to let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ …”