This week Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration is providing $3 million in emergency state funding to the nonprofit organization Connecticut Foodshare to help Connecticut residents who are expected to lose access to food stamp benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the shutdown of the federal government.
The Trump administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced in a memo last Friday that it will not use its $6 billion contingency fund to support this program during the shutdown, nor will it reimburse states if they cover the costs themselves.
This means that effective November 1, 2025, no new SNAP benefits will be distributed, impacting roughly 42 million low-income Americans, including 360,000 Connecticut residents. While Connecticut residents who have unused SNAP benefits from previous months on their EBT cards will still be able to access those carryover funds, no new benefits will be issued in November without federal action.
“Connecticut families should not go hungry because of Washington’s dysfunction,” Governor Lamont said in a release. “While this $3 million in emergency funding will not fill the entire gap left by the federal government, it represents our state’s commitment to supporting our neighbors during this crisis. We are stepping up because Connecticut takes care of its own, and we will continue working to support our residents until this federal shutdown is resolved.”
In Connecticut, SNAP is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS).
“The suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal shutdown affects approximately 360,000 Connecticut residents, including the elderly, disabled, and children and their families who rely on SNAP to meet a basic human need, access to healthy food,” DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said.
“This emergency funding will help Connecticut Foodshare expand its capacity to meet the urgent needs of our communities. But we are also asking everyone to help keep our friends and neighbors from experiencing food insecurity by donating as generously as you can to your local food pantry. Donations of canned and boxed foods and monetary donations are especially needed now. Together, we all make sure that no one falls through the cracks during this challenging time.”
The emergency state funding will support Connecticut Foodshare’s efforts to provide food assistance to families and individuals facing food insecurity.
Governor Lamont, DSS, and other state agencies continue to monitor the ongoing impact of the shutdown and are exploring additional measures to support Connecticut residents.
In addition to Connecticut Foodshare, which is the largest food bank in Connecticut, there are local food pantries all throughout the state that are providing food to those in need and are also seeking donations. To locate food pantries in Connecticut, visit 211ct.org.
For information on how to obtain food assistance from Connecticut Foodshare, as well as information on how to donate to this organization, visit www.ctfoodshare.org
For a list of frequently asked questions regarding the impact of the federal shutdown on SNAP benefits in Connecticut, click here.