Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said essential services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid would continue through the federal government’s shutdown.
“My understanding is essential social services will be continued, and that’s really important,” he said, speaking to reporters Wednesday at an event in Chester. “There may be some interruption to (the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children) benefits, but we’re working through that today.”
Youngkin also said his administration was working to figure out how to support military personnel who are now working without pay.
“We are working through what we can do to potentially support some folks,” he said. “I think there’s two big areas — we’re working to see what we can do, particularly for our military, who are literally protecting America’s interests. And second of all, how we can work with banks, our utility providers like Dominion, landlords, mortgage holders, so that no one is penalized in any way or find themselves in a real bad way as a result of this shutdown.”
Republicans and Democrats have both been pointing fingers for who is to blame for the shutdown. Republicans hold power in Washington, but needed some bipartisan support from Democrats in order to pass legislation in the Senate to fund the government.
Youngkin, a Republican, criticized Democrats for not passing a continuing resolution that would have funded the federal government for another seven weeks.
“They should never be holding America and Virginia hostage,” he said. “I am also incredibly frustrated that our two senators voted to shut down the government.”
Most Democrats, including Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, voted against the continuing resolution. They’re hoping to include a provision to extend enhanced premium tax credits for people who purchase their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
On Wednesday, Kaine introduced legislation that would allow furloughed federal workers to withdraw funds from their Thrift Savings Plans without penalty, while ensuring that funds could be recontributed later on.
“Government shutdowns inflict senseless pain on federal workers. ,” Kaine said in a statement. “If workers need to withdraw funds from their retirement accounts during a shutdown, this bill would ensure they don’t face penalties, that they can access TSP loans, and will address other problems a shutdown can create for TSP account holders.”
Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com