Connecticut Governor Rejects Trump’s Demand to Reclaim SNAP Funds
The administration of President Donald Trump has requested that states “undo” full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that were recently distributed under judicial orders. However, the state of Connecticut has no plans to comply. Governor Ned Lamont affirmed on Sunday that approximately 360,000 residents relying on SNAP will not lose their benefits, despite the federal demand.
The Trump administration’s directive follows a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the lower court rulings that had mandated the release of full SNAP benefits. This situation represents the latest chapter in an ongoing legal dispute concerning the anti-hunger program that serves about 42 million Americans.
“No, Connecticut does not need to take back SNAP benefits already sent to the 360,000 people who count on SNAP for food and who should have never been caught in the middle of this political fight,” Lamont stated. His comments emphasized the state’s commitment to maintain support for its residents amid federal complications.
The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) coincided with warnings from over two dozen states regarding potential “catastrophic operational disruptions.” These disruptions could occur if the federal government does not reimburse states for SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court’s intervention. Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, cautioned that states may face penalties for non-compliance. The implications of this directive on states, particularly those that utilized their own funds versus those relying entirely on federal support, remain uncertain.
Connecticut utilized state funds to facilitate SNAP benefits. “We continue to assess what impact this memo may have, but those who received their benefits should not worry about losing them; we have their back,” Lamont assured. He had previously authorized the full monthly costs of the federal food assistance program using state resources.
As of Saturday, November 2025 benefits had been fully loaded onto the EBT cards of Connecticut’s SNAP recipients. According to Lamont’s office, about 65% of the funding comes from federal sources, while the remainder is state funding authorized by the governor. He expressed satisfaction that all SNAP recipients in Connecticut now have access to the full funding they are entitled to for the month.
“I’m pleased to share the news that as of this afternoon, all SNAP recipients in Connecticut have access to full November funding on their EBT cards,” Lamont mentioned. He criticized the federal government for using families in need as “political pawns.” While he noted his hope that the federal government would uphold its obligations for complete funding, he affirmed that Connecticut would ensure recipients receive their full benefits.
Initially, Lamont allocated $3 million to Foodshare to assist food banks across the state. However, legislators expressed concerns over the adequacy of this support, given that the total cost of the program for a month in Connecticut amounts to $72 million. In response to criticisms, Lamont later indicated that he and lawmakers had agreed to set aside $500 million to address federal cuts, which could include SNAP funding.
When asked about the rationale behind the decision to fully fund the program, Lamont remarked, “The constant back and forth. I thought we were going to have it fully funded three days ago. I thought the courts said you were going to get partial funding. They can’t make up their mind. We made up our mind. We’re going to take care of the people on SNAP.”
Legal actions by nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general aimed to compel the Trump administration to maintain SNAP benefits despite the ongoing government shutdown. Favorable court rulings last week led to the prompt release of benefits to millions across several states, prompting the Trump administration to allow the program to continue.
Nevertheless, on Friday night, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily halted the two rulings that mandated SNAP disbursement, pending a review of the Trump administration’s appeal. Subsequently, the USDA notified state SNAP directors that payments made under the previous orders were now deemed “unauthorized.”
“To the extent states sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” Penn wrote to state SNAP directors. He instructed states to “immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.”
In response to the federal directive, Maura Healey, the Democratic Governor of Massachusetts, stated that SNAP benefits had already been processed and placed on EBT cards in accordance with USDA guidelines prior to the Supreme Court order. She added that if Trump attempts to reclaim the funds, “we will see him in court.”
As this situation continues to unfold, the future of SNAP benefits for millions of Americans remains uncertain, with states navigating complex legal and financial landscapes.
