Governor Abigail Spanberger today signed Executive Order 20, establishing the "Keep Virginia Covered" policy to strengthen the Commonwealth’s response to significant federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) imposed by H.R. 1, referred to as President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The order directs the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to protect healthcare coverage and food assistance for as many eligible Virginians as possible, impacting over 1.8 million Medicaid enrollees and nearly 800,000 SNAP participants.
The executive order outlines a comprehensive plan to mitigate harm by preventing coverage gaps, improving statewide coordination, promoting economic mobility, and prioritizing affordability. Its goals include keeping eligible Virginians enrolled, minimizing administrative barriers, providing alternative coverage opportunities, and fostering public-private partnerships to address funding shortfalls.
Governor Spanberger emphasized the necessity of these actions, stating, “At a time when rising costs — made worse by chaos coming out of Washington — are squeezing families across the Commonwealth and the country, President Trump and Republicans in Washington chose to make the largest cuts to healthcare and food assistance in history.” She added that while the Commonwealth cannot fully offset the federal cuts, her administration will use every available tool to protect Virginians. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa echoed this, saying, “Washington changed the rules for Medicaid and food assistance. Yes, our job is to carry out the law. But our job is also to cut down on paperwork and confusion where we can and help people who still qualify keep food on the table and keep getting the health care they need.”
H.R. 1 is projected to threaten healthcare access for over 300,000 Virginians and cut the Medicaid program by a trillion dollars nationwide over the next decade, with Virginia facing an estimated annual loss of $1.8 to $2.6 billion in federal funds starting in 2028. In response, Virginia’s 2026-2028 biennium budget includes over $500 million in healthcare investments, such as a $150 million premium assistance program, a $225 million Federal Contingency Fund, and $15 million for Federally Qualified Health Centers and free clinics.