Richmond resident Asia Broadie uses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help cover grocery costs for her large family while managing single parenthood, full-time work and nursing school.
After weeks of uncertainty and food insecurity for about 850,000 Virginians during the nation’s longest federal government shutdown, Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance recipients appear likely to continue receiving a portion of their benefits — at least for now.
SNAP, a federal program that helps low-income families and people unable to work afford groceries, has gone unfunded since the start of November due to the six-week-and-counting shutdown.
Concerned about residents going hungry, Gov. Glenn Youngkin created a temporary state-level program called the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance, or VENA. Using the state’s budget surplus, Virginia issued small payments last week. But over the weekend, Youngkin announced that VENA will be paused.
Despite a court order directing President Donald Trump’s administration to use a contingency fund to issue SNAP payments, the issue has remained unresolved since early November.
A partial breakthrough surfaced Sunday evening.
In a bipartisan effort, seven Senate Democrats — including U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia — and one independent joined Republicans to advance legislation to reopen the government and extend funding through late January.
The bill would also fully restore SNAP and other nutrition-program benefits, though it must still pass the House.
Before Sunday’s vote, the Trump administration indicated it would partially use the contingency fund for SNAP, noting that implementation could take weeks or months. Trump also wrote on social media that SNAP “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up the government.”
That prompted a federal district judge to reaffirm his order, ruling the partial-payment plan noncompliant. At least 20 states started preparing to issue full benefits as Trump appealed and urged states to “undo” efforts to provide full payments.
Before the weekend ended, Youngkin announced Virginia would follow federal guidance and pause VENA this week. He said partial federal SNAP funding should reach benefit cards by Nov. 13.
“Our top priority has been to ensure that every Virginian facing food insecurity knows that we are doing everything in our ability to provide food assistance,” Youngkin said. “Now, based on federal guidance, we are committed to processing the federal SNAP benefits made available no later than Thursday.”
Because VENA had already issued about 25% of typical monthly benefits, Youngkin said the state will distribute 65% of the usual monthly federal funds to eligible Virginians. By the end of November, residents will have received about 90% of their regular allotment.
For Richmond residents Daniel Garrett and Asia Broadie, the start of each month usually means grocery shopping.
Garrett, who lives in an apartment complex for seniors and people with disabilities, said most of his Social Security income goes toward rent, so SNAP helps him keep food on the table. Broadie, a single mother balancing work with nursing school, said food “goes quick” with her growing children. She hopes to eventually earn enough not to need SNAP, but right now the program gives her family peace of mind.
While Youngkin is following updated federal guidance, he is also promoting a donation page for Virginians to support regional food banks through the Virginia Cares Initiative — which his administration has already backed with $1 million.
The move comes after warnings from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks that its already strained safety net cannot absorb the influx of SNAP recipients and furloughed federal workers without added support.
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