Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced a plan today to allocate $8.5 million from the state's Federal Cuts Response Fund, providing $300 grocery assistance cards to approximately 25,000 residents expected to lose federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This action addresses new federal rule changes instituted by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans, which impact working families and veterans.
Governor Lamont criticized the federal changes, stating, "Connecticut will not stand by as the Trump administration uses hunger as a weapon against working families, veterans, and our most vulnerable." He added, "These new SNAP work requirements represent a cruel decision and fundamental shift away from the program’s core mission of ensuring our neighbors don’t go hungry. I am particularly troubled by the decision to eliminate the exemption for veterans who risked their lives for our country and now are having the rug pulled out from under them."
Under the plan, eligible individuals losing SNAP due to federal work requirement changes will receive a grocery assistance card. The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in partnership with community action agencies, will administer these benefits and connect applicants with services to help them regain SNAP eligibility. An additional $1 million is allocated for administrative costs.
DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves emphasized the importance of the aid, saying, "No one in Connecticut should have to worry about putting food on the table because of a policy decision made in Washington." State Senator Matt Lesser, co-chair of the Human Services Committee, also supported the initiative, noting, "We are lucky to have Governor Lamont who gets up every day and works to protect the people of Connecticut from Washington overreach."
This is the fourth plan submitted by Governor Lamont for the Federal Cuts Response Fund, established in late 2025 to address federal policy and funding challenges. The fund requires legislative leaders to review and approve expenditures, with all previous plans passing without objection.