Prince William County officials on Oct. 7 briefed the Board of County Supervisors on the unfolding federal government shutdown and its possible local consequences, saying some federally funded programs may keep operating short-term but that sustained disruption could force state and local responses.

The federal fiscal year began Oct. 1 without completed federal appropriations, triggering a partial government shutdown. County staff said mandatory federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare continue, but many discretionary programs and certain services that rely on annual appropriations could be interrupted.

“Some services might be extended for one or two months using prior-year appropriations,” Dave Sinclair, director of the county’s Office of Management and Budget, said during the briefing. Sinclair told the board staff is monitoring which grants carry forward and which may be interrupted, and cautioned that continuation of services is not guaranteed beyond available carryover funds.

Officials identified several local priorities that could be affected:
- Schools: The county and schools receive federal dollars for school lunch, Title I and IDEA programs. Sinclair said Department of Education advance-funded grants and USDA school meal programs were expected to continue at least through October, but lengthy shutdowns can create reimbursement delays.
- Housing: The Office of Housing and Community Development receives sizable HUD funding, and staff said the county’s Housing Choice Voucher program is funded through the end of the calendar year using prior authorizations.
- Social services and nutrition programs: County staff said SNAP benefits were expected to be covered by prior-year carryover funds through October but warned that if the shutdown persists the Commonwealth of Virginia may need to decide whether to front-state funds in expectation of later federal reimbursement. Officials expressed concern about WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits because of tighter funding timelines.
- Medicaid: The county’s Department of Social Services described upcoming policy changes and the potential workload tied to renewed eligibility redeterminations; the agency said roughly 100,000 county residents receive Medicaid, with an estimated 26,000 in the expansion coverage group. Staff warned work and identity-verification requirements in recent federal changes could increase casework and financial pressure on states and localities.

Phyllis Jennings Holt, director of Social Services, described state-level changes that may expand state administrative match obligations and broaden SNAP work requirements to more age groups; she said Virginia officials have not issued full guidance on local cost-sharing responsibilities. “We have not received definitive guidance from VDSS on the local cost-share,” Jennings Holt said, urging contingency planning at the local level.

County officials said they are coordinating internal contingency workstreams and community partners, and they have posted a resource page for federal employees affected by the shutdown. Staff said they will return with more specific budget and program impact estimates as federal and state agencies clarify rules and carryover availability.

Board members asked about near-term options and community outreach; supervisors urged the county to prepare targeted communication for residents who rely on federal benefits and to coordinate with nonprofits and health-care providers. Officials said they will brief the Finance and Budget Committee and the board again as new information becomes available.