Press Release
USDA Must Act: States Need Guidance to Prevent November Food Crises
Published
Over 439,000 Virginia families may lose food assistance as grocery prices continue to skyrocket.
Richmond, VA — As the federal government shutdown continues, millions of Americans are caught in uncertainty—including more than 439,000 Virginia families who rely on food assistance to put meals on the table. Without immediate guidance from The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), states may be unable to issue November SNAP benefits, threatening a food crisis across Virginia and the nation.
The lack of direction from USDA during this shutdown leaves families and state agencies in limbo. USDA must act now and give clear, actionable guidance to every state on how to handle November SNAP allocations, so Virginia families can afford food next month.
“The absence of clear USDA guidance leaves families in a precarious position—they don’t know whether they’ll be able to afford food next month. If USDA fails to act, the 840,000 Virginians, and millions nationwide, who depend on SNAP could lose access to the assistance they need to put meals on the table,” said Cassie Edner, Public Benefits Attorney at Virginia Poverty Law Center.
What USDA Must Do
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has warned states that, because of the federal shutdown, there may not be enough funding to provide a full month of November SNAP benefits. States have been told to hold their benefit files, creating uncertainty for millions of families.
USDA must act immediately to use its contingency fund—which totaled around $6 billion when estimates were last released under the previous administration—to prevent a food assistance gap. Clear USDA guidance is urgently needed before November 1.
The Dangerous Impact of Disrupting Benefits
Hundreds of thousands of Virginia households rely on SNAP to put food on the table each month—feeding more than 300,000 children and 130,000 seniors. On average, participants receive about $170 in monthly benefits, meaning a one-month shortfall would strip more than $144 million in essential food assistance from Virginia families.
Hunger has already been rising as pandemic-era supports have ended and grocery prices soar. According to Feeding America, over 12% of Virginians struggled with hunger in 2023. Many families are already stretching limited resources to cover rent, utilities, and medical costs. Virginians struggling to make ends meet will also feel the impact of expiring premium tax credits—which help lower the monthly cost of private health plans on the Marketplace—if Congress fails to take action to make them permanent. The Commonwealth Fund estimates 94,000 Virginians are likely to lose health coverage, with ripple effects in the job market and economy. As Virginians grapple with higher costs across the board, any reduction in SNAP benefits would push many from “just getting by” into severe hunger and further strain food banks and community pantries across the Commonwealth.
“When the shutdown ends, people can only receive back-dated benefits from the time they applied,” said Edner. “It’s essential that people who need this food assistance continue to apply for SNAP, even if there are delays in payments.”
