POLICY UPDATE: Federal government shutdown impacts, early-voting stats, local Medicaid/SNAP admin difficulties, Virginia “No Kings 2.0” protests, and Virginia Pride Fest Activism

(Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2025)  

• Military Members Hit Hard as Federal Government Shuts, Scolded for Obesity and “Woke Culture”

• Record 221,000 Virginians Have Already Voted before the Nov. 4 General Election

• Medicaid/SNAP Administration Can’t Handle Workload Requirements of Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill” Act without Major Tech Investments

• Virginia Launches HHS Pilot Program of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

• Oct. 18 No Kings 2.0 Protests Give Virginia Social Workers a Chance to Amplify Pro-Democracy, Pro-Medicaid/Medicare Messages

• Virginia Pride Fest Adds Note of Resistance to Its Music and Art Celebration

FEDERAL SHUTDOWN: Social workers with military clients can ensure their clients are aware that USAA and other companies are stepping up to provide short-term, zero-interest loans to active-duty members worried about a missed paycheck during the federal government shutdown this week. With more than 35 military bases, Virginia hosts tens of thousands of military workers who may be among consumers hardest hit if Congress and President Trump continue to clash over a budget extension deal, much of which focuses on healthcare access and costs. Meanwhile, some congressional representatives are drafting legislation that would guarantee military pay regardless of any shutdown. The non-military general public would see immediate impacts of a shutdown, too, including the likely closure of national parks and public lands, closed agency helplines at the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies, furloughs of more than 32,000 workers in Health and Human Services, and delayed tax refunds and checks. In addition, in a highly criticized speech, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the “end of woke culture” in the military Tuesday and chided top leadership gathered in Virginia about the need for “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for weight and fitness.

VOTING ACCESS: As of Sept. 29, more than 221,000 Virginians have already completed early, in-person or mail-in voting for the November 4 General Election, according to tracking by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. The total is well over the 88,000 votes cast by the same date in the General Election four years ago. Early voting is available until Nov. 1. Learn more about Virginia voting deadlines and resources on our NASWVA Voter Information site—and don’t forget that voting is social work!

MEDICAID/SNAP: With Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) administered locally, “it would be near to impossible to take on additional workloads without substantial investments in the outdated technology system that could automate some of the processes” if funding is not restored and expanded in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, said Rebecca Morgan, director of social services for Middlesex County. She estimates the needed expense at $100 million. More frequent renewals, complicated new regulations and work requirements, and other aspects of the act threaten to cut more than 2 million qualified recipients nationwide from their benefits, according to an analysis from the National Association of Counties.

Virginia is one of five states chosen by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) September 25 to participate in the redesigned Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pilot Program. U.S. Health and Human Services announced the relaunched applications in July to pilot “new performance and accountability measures in lieu of the traditional work participation rate.” County-administered in our state, TANF will run for six years, starting October 1 and establishing benchmark data and negotiating targets in its first year. 

CALL TO ACTION: Get loud, get outside, get together! Join fellow social workers and others for a “No Kings 2.0” demonstration October 18 in your local area. See which location is nearest and bring a sign to stand up for democracy, voting rights, full funding for Medicaid/Medicare, federal jobs for social workers, continued mental health programs in schools and communities, independent scientific research, and many more issues on which NASW has taken a stance. Learn more about this national movement and get engaged!

LGBTQIA2S+: Thousands of LGBTQIA2S+ party goers and allies participated in Virginia Pride Fest 2025—the state’s largest LGBTQIA2S+ festival—in Richmond last Saturday after a week of celebratory and policy-oriented events organized by VA Pride to celebrate the community. In addition to art, music, theater, and games, attendees signed petitions and distributed educational materials related to survivors of anti-LGBTQ violence, tips on activism and mental health, and “drag resistance.”