Government

GVI Employees Worked Until 2:30 a.m. to Send SNAP Checks Out by Saturday; USVI One of Only 6 Jurisdictions to Issue Payments During Shutdown

While millions of Americans face uncertainty over when their November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will arrive, Virgin Islanders have already begun receiving relief thanks to the quick action of the Bryan administration and the Legislature. On Saturday, local officials issued checks to more than 10,600 SNAP households, representing nearly 21,000 residents. The payments, which covered half of each household’s monthly benefit, were funded entirely with local dollars after the federal government ordered a temporary halt to disbursements during the ongoing shutdown. The emergency action made the Virgin Islands one of only six jurisdictions nationwide to step in with local funding to support residents while federal benefits remain frozen. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. praised government employees who worked through the weekend to ensure families received assistance before the start of the month. “This weekend, we had people up until 2:30 in the morning trying ...