Can my employer cut my benefits if I fall under 40 hours if they do not provide enough work?

I work for an out source company based in Florida that does contract work for hospitals all over the United States. I work as a remote coder from home and I live in Virginia. In the past few months we have been running out of work almost on a weekly basis. I have received an email from my employer stating my benefits may be cut next month because I have not gotten my 40 hours in for several consecutive weeks. I am available to work but the client and employer are not providing enough work for the number of employees they have scheduled. Policy states an employee that works 36 hours per week is eligible for benefits. Can they do this? I feel so helpless in this situation.