RICHMOND, VA (Rocktown Now) — Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed Executive Order 20 to strengthen the Commonwealth’s response to cuts to Medicaid and SNAP imposed by H.R. 1 — President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

The Governor’s 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. More than 1.8 million Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid and nearly 800,000 Virginians are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The order lays out the Commonwealth’s plan to contend with H.R.1 by preventing gaps in coverage, improving statewide coordination, promoting economic mobility, keeping Virginia families safe and healthy, and prioritizing affordability.  

Under Executive Order 20, Governor Spanberger establishes the Keep Virginia Covered policy to guide how executive agencies implement the new requirements and changes imposed by the federal government through H.R.1 with a focus on mitigating harm to Virginians.

The policy establishes the following goals:

  • Keep every Virginian who remains eligible for Medicaid or SNAP enrolled and covered
  • Minimize administrative and procedural barriers to enrollment and renewal wherever federal law affords the Commonwealth discretion
  • Provide meaningful opportunities for economic mobility, workforce development, and employment resources
  • Provide alternative opportunities for coverage and access to health and food services where feasible
  • Build public-private partnerships that bring the Commonwealth’s full civic and philanthropic capacity to bear where state government alone cannot fill the gap left by reduced federal funding