SNAP cuts are coming up on Virginia's 1st District campaign trail
Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could play a role in this year’s midterm elections. With less than three weeks before early voting starts, candidates for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District seat sparred on social media over changes to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.
Last week, Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman posted a photo of himself at a foodbank in the Richmond suburbs. Democratic challenger Shannon Taylor responded that Wittman had voted to “cut food stamps and leave Virginians hungry.”
“Now he wants a photo op,” Taylor wrote.
Wittman defended his vote on H.R.1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that came with numerous changes to SNAP, saying the changes amounted to supporting “work, accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
“I call it common sense,” he said. “SNAP should be there for Virginians who genuinely need help, while reforms should focus on empowering people who are able to work so they can build financial independence for themselves and their families.
“Supporting responsible reforms and supporting our local food banks aren’t contradictory. Both are about making sure help reaches the people who need it.”
The changes to SNAP included new work requirements and stricter eligibility rules for non-citizens.
The population of able-bodied adults without dependents who must meet work or training requirements — 80 hours a month — to maintain SNAP eligibility has significantly expanded. The upper age limit was bumped from 55 to 64, and the child exemption was narrowed to apply only to adults living with a child under 14. The legislation also eliminated exemptions that were available for homeless people, some veterans, youth aging out of foster care and people with non-disabling health limitations.
Unless the work requirement or an exemption is met, individuals are limited to three months of SNAP benefits during a three-year period.
The state will also be obligated to pay an increased cost-share for administering SNAP based on the state’s payment error rate — the higher the rate for mistakes, such as incorrect payment amounts to recipients or administrative errors, the higher the cost share burden. And beginning in October, Virginia will shoulder 75% of the administrative costs of running SNAP, compared to the 50% burden it used to pay. That works out to about $93 million per year.
Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources estimates that SNAP participation in Virginia declined by about 135,000 participants between June 2025 and June 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order last week directing state agencies to prioritize continuity of coverage for people who use SNAP and Medicaid. That includes building out systems to ensure people eligible for those programs don’t lose eligibility because they fail to pass administrative hurdles. The state agencies that administer SNAP and Medicaid are directed to use plain-language notices and multi-channel outreach before any coverage or benefit action is taken, bolster staffing at call centers to address increase demand, streamline the eligibility redetermination process and provide a clear appeals pathway.
“The OBBBA added administrative requirements, that when previously implemented in other states have resulted, not in program integrity increases, but instead in significant coverage loss for eligible members — including but not limited to individuals who are working full-time,” the order reads. “This loss of coverage will strain Virginia’s healthcare safety net and major healthcare institutions alike.”
But Spanberger cautioned that the federal funding and eligibility reductions cannot be fully offset by state action.
Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, [email protected]