Virginia leaders, advocates discuss incoming SNAP cuts

Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan joined several advocates to discuss the impacts SNAP cuts will have on Virginia’s budget at an event on Monday in Richmond.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the spending bill will cut $187 billion of federal funding by 2034, leaving hundreds of thousands of Virginia families at risk of losing SNAP benefits.

“SNAP not only keeps food on the table but, as you heard, it helps keep children healthy in the long term,” McClellan said.

New laws within recent spending bills will reduce federal funding for SNAP in several ways, including changing ages for work requirements and freezing the Thrifty Food Plan.

McClellan said these SNAP cuts could not only affect people using SNAP, but also grocery stores.

“Our local grocery stores, particularly those in food deserts, rely on this program to stay afloat as well,” McClellan said.

However, another change that could impact any taxpayer in Virginia, regardless of whether you use SNAP benefits, is an expense shift. That includes a 25% increase in administrative costs from the state and requires states like Virginia with error rates higher than 6% to pay a certain share of the program.

Currently, Virginia’s error rate for SNAP is 11.5%. If that number does not fall below 6% by Oct.1, 2027, the state would have to pay a 15% share.

That means more than $200 million from the state’s general fund would be spent annually on SNAP.

“My former colleagues and the next governor will have to find the money to pay for these costs, or make the incredibly difficult decision to cut benefits or raise taxes,” McClellan said.

Asia Broadie, a Richmond mother, also joined McClellan on Monday. She expressed how she relies on SNAP to keep food on the table for her and her children. With several SNAP cuts on the way, she’s worried about the possibility that she and other Virginians could lose certain benefits.

“I have to rely on SNAP to help me feed my kids so that I can meet ends meet,” Broadie said.

In addition, McClellan said SNAP cuts could trickle down and start to affect children, especially when it comes to school lunches.

“SNAP eligibility determines eligibility for free and reduced lunch. It also determines how many school divisions are eligible for funding to help them provide free and reduced lunch to all those school divisions in Title I schools,” McClellan explained.

McClellan also mentioned how the SNAP-ED program was officially cut within the spending bill. Before it was cut, it helped teach children nutrition education. SNAP-ED funding will be officially eliminated after the fiscal year 2025 ends on Sept. 30.