As the federal shutdown stretched into its fourth week, lawmakers convened Wednesday to confront what Senate President Milton E. Potter called a moment that demands “urgency, clarity, and compassion” — because, he said, for thousands of Virgin Islands families, the suspension of federal nutrition aid is not a political inconvenience, but a crisis at the kitchen table.
“For many, these benefits are not merely a supplement,” Potter said. “They are the difference between a meal and an empty plate.”
The shutdown, which began Oct. 10, halted the release of November SNAP benefits, affecting roughly 10,600 households — more than 21,000 people — or about one in four residents locally. That includes seniors who stretch fixed incomes, parents balancing bills and groceries, and children whose school meals are among the most reliable nutrition they receive all week, said Human Services Commissioner Averil George.
“These are not abstract numbers,” she said. “There are real people facing real hardship — the empty lunchbox of a child, the bare refrigerator in a senior’s home.”

In response, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. has authorized an emergency local relief plan to provide paper checks covering half of November’s usual SNAP benefit. That totals $2.7 million across 10,635 households, according to DHS and the Department of Finance — a stopgap measure until federal funding resumes.
Checks are being mailed by zip code, with a hotline and dedicated email for families needing to verify addresses or request reissuance. Undeliverable checks will be held securely for pickup. The shift to paper rather than EBT loading was not a preference, but rather based on a constraint: the federal EBT system contractor advised that reprogramming cards for partial benefits would take at least a month, delaying relief into late November, George said.
But food insecurity hasn’t been the only concern. The shutdown has also halted pay for approximately 1,000 federal employees in the territory, representing about $12.5 million in monthly wages removed from circulation. The territory stands to lose $2.5 million in withholding revenue tied to those paychecks alone. And another 1,200 Territorial Government employees funded by federal grants could be affected next if the shutdown continues — representing $70 million in annual salaries at risk, according to OMB Director Julio Rhymer.
“This is not only a social safety issue,” Rhymer said. “It is an economic stability issue.”He added that the estimated loss of SNAP spending alone — roughly $5 to $6 million per month — has a cascading effect on the private sector, with an estimated 16 local jobs at risk as household spending constricts.
Senators pressed both the administration and one another on what must happen next. Sen. Carla Joseph zeroed in on workforce exposure across agencies, noting that the effects would not land evenly. Sen. Dwayne DeGraff raised concerns about mortgage defaults and consumer credit stress if workers continue reporting without pay. Sen. Franklin Johnson questioned whether federal employees would eventually receive back pay; OMB responded that, legally, yes — but noted the uncertainty in current federal negotiations.
Sens. Marvin Blyden and Alma Francis Heyliger emphasized that only the Legislature can authorize sustained relief. “This body,” Blyden said, “is the appropriating body. We don’t ask for permission. We act.”
Meanwhile, DHS urged caution as nonprofits and informal community groups rush to fill the gap, reminding residents to verify any organization requesting personal information in exchange for food assistance. And the clock is ticking: WIC benefits also end Nov. 1 without federal approval, compounding pressure on families with infants and small children.
Rhymer and Finance Commissioner Kevin McCurdy told lawmakers that if the shutdown extends past Dec. 1, the territory may need to reallocate its $100 million line of credit — $50 million for operating continuity and $50 million for reserves — to maintain payroll, health services, and basic government operations. Discussion also touched on how quickly legislators can move and what longer-term preparations must be made if the federal shutdown drags on.
“Hunger cannot wait for politics,” Potter said in closing. “The decisions we make here ripple through homes, families, and futures.”