State of Emergency Declared as SNAP Benefits Near Depletion; Senators Press USDA to Act
LURAY, Va. — On October 23, 2025, Page County officials posted an urgent message to residents who receive food benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Potential delay or non-receipt of November benefits:
Due to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has notified the Commonwealth of Virginia that November SNAP benefits cannot be issued at this time.
This is a nationwide issue impacting all SNAP households and cannot be appealed.
What You Need to Know
• If you currently have SNAP benefits on your EBT card, you can continue to use them to purchase food.
• November SNAP benefits will not be issued unless the federal government provides additional guidance.
• Page County does not have additional information at this time.
The Virginia Department of Social Services has a hotline which is updated with new information as it becomes available. The number is: 1-800-552-3431.
Local Resources:
• Page One — Luray (540)743-4863 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 8:30-11 a.m.
• Page One — Shenandoah (540) 652-8780 Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:30-3:30 p.m.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (540) 248-3663 Monday - Friday 9-5 p.m.
In response to the Department of Agriculture announcement, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a media release declaring a State of Emergency, which will temporarily allow state funds to be used to assist those in need.
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Va., joined 44 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release billions of dollars in available funds to ensure SNAP benefits continue in November. The full text of the letter is HERE.
In Virginia alone, more than 800,000 people are at risk of losing their benefits if the USDA does not utilize available funding to distribute resources to states for the program.