Virginia governor declares state of emergency to expedite food aid during federal shutdown

By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Thursday to help maintain food aid for state residents as a three-week-long U.S. government shutdown threatens to halt federal benefits.

Youngkin said the move would allow him to use emergency funds to assist Virginians in the absence of federal appropriations to fund the food benefits administered by states.

More than 850,000 Virginia residents would feel the impact if Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits run out on November 1, he said.

The emergency declaration by Virginia, the first state to issue one, comes after other states warned food aid recipients this week that their benefits may not be distributed next month if the shutdown continues.

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