RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia has declared a state of emergency on Thursday over worries that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be depleted by November.

On October 23, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the emergency status for Virginia due to the looming threat of a SNAP benefit shortage. This move comes in response to the prolonged federal government shutdown, now entering its third week, which could see SNAP assistance end as early as Saturday, November 1.

“Over 850,000 Virginians could lose SNAP benefits starting November 1, 2025, because of the Democrat Shutdown,” Youngkin stated. “I am committed to ensuring that Virginians facing hunger are not used as bargaining chips by Congressional Democrats. This State of Emergency aims to safeguard Virginians in need during this Democrat Shutdown.”

The declaration follows a plea from Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Sen. Danica Roem (D-Prince William), and various advocates, urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to utilize a $6 billion contingency fund to continue supporting nearly 800,000 Virginians reliant on SNAP.

“Should the federal government shutdown persist beyond October 27, November’s SNAP benefits will not be distributed,” cautioned Texas’ Health and Human Services Department.

During a press conference on Thursday, Senator Tim Kaine expressed his endorsement of Youngkin’s state of emergency decision.

“I would be supportive of that,” Kaine said. “The reconciliation bill that the Republicans passed over my objection this summer made massive cuts to SNAP. That’s one of the reasons why I voted against it. I think efforts — any efforts — that can be taken at the state level that can help make sure that people who are food insecure don’t suffer, I support.”

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