Federal and state audits called for by Mayor Gaskins to evaluate the influence of fresh federal decrees
In a move to ensure that the city of Alexandria is ready for upcoming changes in Medicaid and food assistance programs, Mayor Alyia Gaskins has called for comprehensive audits. The audits, requested from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Government Accountability Office, the Virginia State Auditor, and the State Department of Health and Human Resources, aim to verify Virginia's preparedness for the new requirements from the federal law H.R. 1, also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
The new legislation places new conditions on programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). For Medicaid, the changes include shifting from annual to twice-yearly eligibility redeterminations, community engagement and work reporting requirements for Medicaid expansion adults by January 2027, and cost-sharing obligations for certain expansion recipients beginning in October 2028.
Mayor Gaskins expressed specific concerns about Virginia's preparedness, particularly community engagement, work reporting requirements, cost-sharing obligations, and the readiness of the state's IT infrastructure to support continuous work-status reporting for all beneficiaries.
The urgency of these audits is highlighted by the potential consequences. States exceeding the federal threshold by late 2027 could face penalties estimated at $270 million in lost benefits for Virginia, which is approximately 15% of the state's total SNAP budget.
The mayor's concerns are not unfounded. Virginia's SNAP error rate in fiscal 2024 stands at 11.5%, nearly doubling the new federal threshold of 6%. Moreover, more than 14,000 residents of Alexandria depend on SNAP benefits, including 8,076 children under 18 and 1,795 seniors. Nearly 30,000 Alexandria residents also rely on Medicaid for health care services as of June 2025, including 6,641 through Medicaid expansion.
In letters to the Alexandria General Assembly Delegation, U.S. Rep. Donald Beyer, and U.S. Sens. Warner and Kaine, Mayor Gaskins detailed the city's concerns about Virginia's preparedness for the new Medicaid requirements. She emphasized the need for Virginia to assess fiscal exposure, update outdated legacy IT systems and processes, and strengthen local safety nets before the new requirements fully take effect.
The mayor's office indicated that Alexandria stands ready to provide data, case studies, and resident testimony to support the audit efforts. By taking proactive steps now, Alexandria aims to ensure that its residents continue to receive the necessary support in the face of these upcoming policy changes.
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