Connecticut sues to keep SNAP benefits funded

Just days before 360,000 Connecticut residents are set to lose SNAP food stamps due to the federal government shutdown, the state joined a nationwide lawsuit to keep the program funded.

More than two dozen states and governors are asking a judge to force the Trump administration to use billions of dollars in contingency funds.

HUGE FINANCIAL HIT

If you have a SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, it won’t get refilled on Saturday. Funding has run out due to the nearly month-long government shutdown.

“The well has run dry,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture website posted on Monday. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”

It’s a big financial hit.

If you are single, you will miss out on up to $298 for November – for a family of four, it’s nearly $1,000 – to cover a month’s worth of food.

"STARVING PEOPLE"

Now, Connecticut, along with 21 other states and three Democratic governors, want a judge to force the Trump administration keep the money flowing.

“Willfully and intentionally starving people is against the law,” said Democratic Attorney General William Tong. “Even though they have the money, they are deciding – starting on Saturday – not to provide milk, bread, eggs, to hungry children across our state.”

Republicans argue that Democrats are responsible because they have blocked more than a dozen attempts to reopen the government. Democrats counter that Trump has refused to negotiate with them over Medicaid cuts and health care subsidies.

The Department of Agriculture has a $5 billion contingency fund, but insists it can only use the money for natural disasters.

“The SNAP program in November costs $9.2 billion. We don’t have the legal authority, as of today, to distribute anything less than that through the formulas,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told CNN. “That $9.2 billion – we don’t even have close to that in contingency funding. We’ve got to get this government open.”

Tong said the federal government not only has the authority to spend contingency funds, it’s required to under the Administrative Procedures Act.

“SNAP, and the funding of SNAP, is mandatory under federal law,” he told reporters. “There’s no discretion. You have to do it because Congress said so.”

During previous shutdowns, the federal government has used contingency funds to keep SNAP going.

"What is happening is a policy choice," said Rep, Jahana Hayes (D-Waterbury). "What we're dealing with right now is an administration that lacks the will."

FOOD BANKS STEP IN

To fill the SNAP gap, the state is sending food banks an extra $3 million in emergency Medicaid funds. But that pales in comparison to the $72 million in federal funds that Connecticut receives each month.

Food banks called in a short-term Band-Aid that will only last a few weeks.

“All of the charitable food programs combined, there's no way that we can fill the gap,” said Nancy Coughlin, CEO of Person to Person, which operates food banks across lower Fairfield County.