Affording groceries, already a challenge for many households in the D.C. region, could become an even greater obstacle next month for thousands of Fairfax County residents with the suspension of federal food benefits.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is expected to pause payments at the end of next week unless Congress and President Donald Trump resolve the budget standoff that has closed the federal government since Oct. 1.
Nearly 29,000 households totaling more than 56,000 individuals in Fairfax County collectively receive about $9.9 million in food benefits each month, according to the county government.
While October benefits were unaffected by the federal government shutdown, the county said in a news release yesterday (Thursday) that it’s “working on solutions” to help fill in the gap for residents who might need assistance starting in November.
However, it’s unclear how much authority or financial capacity local and state governments have to step in and bolster the federally funded and controlled program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, told states earlier this month not to send information to the vendors who provide the debit cards because of uncertainty about whether the program would be funded in November.
“Since SNAP is funded at the federal level and supervised by the state, Fairfax County cannot control or change when SNAP funding will be released,” Fairfax County said. “… At this time, it is unclear whether benefits will be issued retroactively once the shutdown ends. The Virginia Department of Social Services has stated that benefits will lapse starting Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown is not resolved by Oct. 28.”
Governor declares state of emergency
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency yesterday that he said will allow his administration to “expend emergency funds” to provide hunger relief to the over 850,000 Virginias who rely on SNAP.
In his statement, Youngkin placed the blame for the federal government shutdown squarely on Democrats, including Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, while thanking “President Trump and his Administration for their help” in supporting Virginians in need.
“The Commonwealth will provide food benefits until Congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics,” Youngkin said.
A spokesperson for Youngkin didn’t elaborate when asked what kind of support the Trump administration has provided or on the expected amount or source of the funding that the state will use to provide food assistance, beyond that the money will be “coming from the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
“The Commonwealth will provide benefits for the purchase of food similar to SNAP benefits,” the governor’s spokesperson told FFXnow. “More details are forthcoming, but let’s be clear, the process is complex and not easy. It would be much easier for Senators Kaine and Warner to vote end this shameful Democrat Shutdown.”
Fairfax County indicated that it’s “waiting for guidance from the Virginia Department of Social Services” on what the emergency declaration means for localities.
“We are monitoring the situation carefully and will share information as it becomes available on our SNAP updates page,” the county said.
For now, the county noted that resources are available for federal workers and anyone else in need. The county’s Coordinated Planning Services hotline, which provides basic needs assistance, can be reached at 703-222-0880, and its website has a map showing emergency food distribution sites.
Senators urge USDA to keep benefits flowing
In response to Youngkin blaming Democrats for the shutdown, Warner and Kaine argued that Republicans “have, quite literally, the power to stop” the shutdown, given that the party controls the White House and has majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
“They also had the power to defend nutrition benefits earlier this year, but chose to sell out working families as part of the Big Ugly Law in order to offset the cost of tax breaks for billionaires,” the senators said in a joint statement to FFXnow, referring to the tax and spending bill that Trump signed on July 4.
Warner and Kaine joined dozens of other senators, mostly Democrats, yesterday in calling on the USDA to continue releasing SNAP benefits in November by tapping into contingency funds, questioning the department’s assertion that the program will soon run out of money.
“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November,” the group of senators said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance.”
According to the Associated Press, the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that about $5 billion is available in a contingency fund and is calling on the government to use that for partial benefits in November. It’s not clear if that’s being seriously discussed.
The U.S. Senate has been deadlocked over a deal to fund federal agencies for months now. Republicans are pushing for a resolution to maintain existing levels of funding, while Democrats hold out for a budget that extends health care subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025.
Warner and Kaine warned earlier this week that allowing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to expire will be “disastrous” for Virginia, leading to “skyrocketing” health care costs and an estimated 50,000 residents becoming uninsured based on an analysis by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that advocates for health equity.
With enrollment for the ACA marketplace opening on Nov. 1, the State Corporation Commission reported that 10 insurers are seeking to increase their premium rates for 2026, most of them by an average of 20% or higher.
To manage the open enrollment period, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to temporarily bring back all of its furloughed employees starting Monday (Oct. 27), covering their pay with user fees collected from sharing data with researchers, AP reported.
