November 5, 2025
Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP) advantages are on maintain briefly because of the federal authorities shutdown.
The U.S. Virgin Islands labored additional time to guarantee its residents obtained partial Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP) advantages earlier than they have been briefly placed on maintain because of the authorities shutdown.
In response to the Virgin Islands Consortium, the Authorities of the Virgin Islands used native funds after federal funds have been postponed, and officers labored till 2:30 a.m. to problem the checks.
The checks, every masking half of the everyday month-to-month profit, reached round 21,000 Virgin Island residents, many arriving earlier than their counterparts on the mainland may entry comparable help. The urgency stemmed from the shutdown’s impression on america Division of Agriculture potential to distribute funds nationwide.
“This weekend, we had individuals up till 2:30 within the morning attempting to get these checks out so our mates, our neighbors and our households wouldn’t go with out the much-needed help,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. mentioned.
Officers within the U.S. Virgin Islands raced towards the clock to make sure greater than 10,600 households obtained their November SNAP funds on time. The motion made the territory certainly one of solely six U.S. jurisdictions to behave on behalf of its residents thus far.
Territorial officers say their swift motion was pushed by each sensible want and civic duty. Native employees on the Division of Human Companies and the Division of Finance pulled in a single day shifts. It coordinated throughout the legislative and government branches to guarantee funds have been processed and distributed. It was a notable distinction: whereas most states awaited federal decision, the U.S. Virgin Islands acted prematurely.
The USDA, dealing with one of many largest contingency efforts in its historical past, anticipated to make use of round $5 billion from emergency funds—nonetheless in need of the complete $8 billion month-to-month want.
Analysts and native advocates say the territorial response presents a blueprint for what proactive coverage and local-state coordination can obtain when federal help lags. Purposes of this mannequin might turn out to be extra related because the shutdown drags on and gaps in nationwide protection widen.
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