Virginia steps up while Washington stalls
Gov. Youngkin’s emergency food program reveals that states can take a bigger lead on feeding those in need.
Youngkin announced the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program to address Washington’s dysfunctional shutdown resulting in the temporary loss of SNAP benefits. The second longest federal shutdown so far, it’s now approaching a month and in another week will take over the reign as the longest.
Youngkin said the initiative came together “like building an airplane while it’s taking off.” Funded through the state’s budget surplus, VENA delivers weekly benefits using the same EBT cards as SNAP, ensuring continuity for families in need. It’s a reminder that there is a moral component to fiscal health given that stewardship in good times allows for compassion in a crisis.
There’s also a deeper civic lesson here. Government can step in, but civil society remains essential, too. The vast array of churches, charities, and neighbors who see hunger not as a political issue but a human one. When both spheres work well, the common good thrives.
Furthermore, we have a Tenth Amendment for a reason and Virginia’s example should be a reminder that well run states can handle these priorities much better than our hyper-politicized Congress.
In a moment when many Americans have lost faith in Washington, Virginia’s example reminds us that real governance still happens close to home.
— The Federalism Beat