Federal and state audits requested by Mayor Gaskins to evaluate the influence of recently imposed federal regulations
In a recent development, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins has called for expedited audits of Virginia's readiness to implement new federal requirements affecting Medicaid and food assistance programs. The audits are requested for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Government Accountability Office.
The focus of these audits is to evaluate the state's preparedness for mandates in the recently enacted federal legislation known as H.R. 1, or the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Specific concerns about Virginia's preparedness include shifting from annual to twice-yearly eligibility redeterminations for Medicaid, 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Mayor Gaskins has emphasised the need for Virginia to assess fiscal exposure, update outdated legacy IT systems and processes, and strengthen local safety nets before the new requirements fully take effect. She has also highlighted that Alexandria stands ready to provide data, case studies, and resident testimony to support the audit efforts.
The mayor's concerns are not unfounded. Changes in Medicaid could impact nearly 30,000 Alexandria residents, including 6,641 through Medicaid expansion as of June 2025. Furthermore, more than 14,000 residents in Alexandria depend on SNAP benefits, including 8,076 children under 18 and 1,795 seniors.
Virginia's SNAP error rate in fiscal 2024 is 11.5%, which nearly doubles the new federal threshold of 6%. States exceeding the federal threshold by late 2027 could face penalties estimated at $270 million in lost benefits for Virginia, representing approximately 15% of the state's total SNAP budget.
The mayor has also expressed concerns about Virginia's Medicaid Enterprise System and eligibility platforms not being prepared to support continuous work-status reporting for all beneficiaries. She has requested comprehensive audits examining the effectiveness of current IT infrastructure, system readiness for new reporting requirements, safeguards to prevent wrongful terminations of benefits, best practices from other states, and resource needs for compliance.
In a bid to address these issues, the mayor has written letters to the Alexandria General Assembly Delegation, U.S. Rep. Donald Beyer, and U.S. Sens. Warner and Kaine, detailing the concerns and requesting audits.
All policy letters from the mayor and City Council are available at alexandriava.gov/go/7276 for public perusal. It is hoped that these audits will provide clarity and ensure Virginia is well-prepared to implement the new federal requirements, safeguarding the interests of its residents.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
