Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to provide emergency hunger relief for Virginians in response to the Democrat Shutdown causing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to run out beginning Nov. 1.

“The Democrat Shutdown will cause SNAP benefits to run out for over 850,000 Virginians in need starting November 1," Youngkin said in a news release Oct. 23. "I refuse to let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ by Congressional Democrats. I am declaring a State of Emergency due to the Democrat Shutdown to protect hungry Virginians in need."

The state of emergency allows the commonwealth to use emergency funds to continue providing food benefits.

The announcement came as the 22-day-old federal shutdown continued. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump r

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