EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER FIFTY-FOUR (2025)
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO PROTECT HUNGRY VIRGINIANS FROM DEMOCRATS BLOCKING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE MOST NEEDY
Importance of the Initiative
Discretionary federal spending is provided in 12 annual appropriations bills, all of which expired before midnight on September 30, 2025, prior to the beginning of federal fiscal year 2026. Now in its fourth week, this lapse in appropriations has already had many adverse effects on the Commonwealth of Virginia, not the least of which may fall on hungry Virginians in need who rely on federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to help buy food for their families.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a clean continuing resolution (CR) to continue funding the federal government on September 19, 2025, well before federal appropriations expired at the end of September. Senate Democrats continue to block efforts to pass the clean CR, refusing to vote to reopen the government for a 12th time on October 22, 2025. As a result of these repeated shameless partisan attacks on Virginians in need, essential SNAP benefits - which are funded entirely by the federal government - for over 850,000 Virginians in need from every city and county in the Commonwealth will expire at the end of October. The Food & Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has also indicated that there are insufficient contingency funds to pay benefits or continue operations in November. In contrast to Democrats in Washington, the Commonwealth will ensure that Virginians in need do not go hungry.
To that end, today, I am declaring a state of emergency on the Democrat Shutdown to protect Virginians and provide emergency hunger relief for those in need. The health and general welfare of Virginians in need require that state action be taken to help alleviate the conditions caused by Democrat senators voting to shut down the government. My constitutional and statutory duties compel me to act to prevent substantial harm to Virginians in need as a result of this emergency. Given Virginia’s prudent fiscal stewardship throughout this administration, the Commonwealth can temporarily provide benefits to SNAP recipients to offset the disastrous effects of the Democrat Shutdown. This is an extraordinary action, and is only necessary because of the shamelessness of Congressional Democrats - including every Democrat in Virginia's delegation - who refuse to pass a clean CR.
Directive
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in me by Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and by §§ 44-146.17 and 44-146.28 of the Code of Virginia, as the Governor of the Commonwealth, and subject always to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby direct:
1. The Secretary of Health & Human Resources to coordinate with the Secretary of Finance, the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS), and the Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) to immediately take all necessary actions to provide emergency hunger relief to those in need by replacing SNAP benefit disbursements to eligible Virginians until the federal lapse in appropriations ends and Congressional Democrats put the needs of Virginians ahead of political interests. This relief shall be disbursed according to the same guidelines as SNAP benefits, including prohibition on benefit disbursement to illegal immigrants.
2. Activation of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and the Virginia Emergency Support Team, as warranted by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, to coordinate with the Secretaries of Health & Human Resources and Finance as well as DSS and DPB or other stakeholders as necessary to coordinate the support of emergency hunger relief.
Effective Date
This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and in effect until November 30, 2025, unless sooner amended or rescinded by further directive or authorization. Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 23rd day of October 2025.
/s/ Glenn Youngkin, Governor