Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today led Democratic members of Virginia’s congressional delegation — including Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (Va.-03), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Va.-08), Jennifer McClellan (Va.-04), Suhas Subramanyam (Va.-10), and James R. Walkinshaw (Va.-11) — in sending a letter to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares urging him to join other state attorneys general in filing suit against the Trump Administration to ensure continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The delegation instructed him to reply to the letter by Friday, October 31st, 2025.
Without immediate federal action, SNAP funding will expire on November 1, leaving more than 42 million Americans — including over 824,000 Virginians — at risk of going hungry in the midst of the ongoing government shutdown.
In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that the Trump administration has both the legal authority and financial resources to avert this crisis by drawing from the $5 billion SNAP contingency fund that Congress already appropriated. Despite this, administration officials have reportedly made “no serious efforts” to identify alternative funding sources — choosing instead to allow benefits to lapse.
“Without immediate action, SNAP funding will lapse on November 1st. This means that 42 million children and families – including more than 824,000 in Virginia – will risk going hungry this coming month. This doesn’t have to happen,” wrote Vindman and his colleagues.
“Despite having the legal authority to utilize the Congressionally appropriated, $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, the Trump Administration chose to let children go hungry to make a political point,” they argued. “It’s worth restating that this is a choice. The Trump Administration is choosing to let kids go hungry. It’s choosing not to feed seniors, single mothers, and veterans. It has the legal authority to do so. It has the moral responsibility to do so. But it is not.”
The letter also notes that joining the multistate lawsuit would align with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s recent declaration of a state of emergency, which allows Virginia to cover SNAP benefits temporarily.
“We know you agree that kids shouldn’t go hungry,” they continued. “Fortunately, there is something you can do: we strongly urge you to join other State Attorneys General in suing the Trump Administration to fund SNAP.”
BACKGROUND
On October 28, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to stop President Donald Trump’s administration from suspending food aid benefits starting on November 1 amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
Earlier this year, congressional Republicans voted to cut $186 billion in SNAP benefits, further straining the program that millions of American families rely on.
With no immediate action from the administration, states are now left to protect families from food insecurity in the midst of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
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Full text of the letter is available here and below.
Attorney General Miyares,
Without immediate action, SNAP funding will lapse on November 1st. This means that 42 million children and families – including more than 824,000 in Virginia – will risk going hungry this coming month.1 This doesn’t have to happen.
Despite having the legal authority to utilize the Congressionally appropriated, $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, the Trump Administration chose to let children go hungry to make a political point. This comes after Republicans cut $186 billion in SNAP benefits from families earlier this year. Reporting indicates that there are “no serious efforts underway at USDA to find other sources of funding.”
It’s worth restating that this is a choice. The Trump Administration is choosing to let kids go hungry. It’s choosing not to feed seniors, single mothers, and veterans. It has the legal authority to do so. It has the moral responsibility to do so. But it is not.
We know you agree that kids shouldn’t go hungry. Fortunately, there is something you can do: we strongly urge you to join other State Attorneys General in suing the Trump Administration to fund SNAP. This would be in line with Governor Youngkin’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Virginia which will allow the Commonwealth to cover SNAP benefits.
If you decide not to join the Attorney Generals’ lawsuit, we ask that you inform our delegation as to why. Please respond to this letter no later than October 31st, 2025.
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