Gov. Lamont responds to President Trump’s decision to “undo” full SNAP benefits

As some states, including Connecticut, are issuing full SNAP benefits to recipients, the Trump administration is now saying those efforts need to be rolled back.

That’s according to a Department of Agriculture memo during the ongoing government shutdown.

As the government shutdown continues to drag on, the court battle over the lapse in federal funding of SNAP benefits remains front and center.

“There has been no other time in which SNAP benefits have been suspended due to government shutdown,” Brian Marks, a University of New Haven business professor, said.

As it plays out, Connecticut is among the few states moving ahead with using state funds to give full SNAP payments to recipients for November. Marks says the move by Governor Ned Lamont is notable, as he’s seen as a fiscal moderate.

“Governor Lamont is being thoughtful and considerate about those who need and trying to transfer funds where he can and where he has the authority,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that needs to stop after the Supreme Court issued a pause on a federal district court order telling the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP.

In a memo issued late Saturday, the USDA says the extent states had sent full SNAP payments for this month was “unauthorized” and says they must “immediately undo” those steps. It says failure to comply could result in actions such as the USDA holding states financially responsible over sending the full payments and cancelling federal cost-sharing of SNAP with them.

Governor Lamont responded to the memo saying the state didn’t need to take back SNAP funds saying in a statement:

“No, Connecticut does not need to take back SNAP benefits already sent to the 360,000 people who depend on them for food and who should have never been caught in the middle of this political fight. 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.”

Connecticut Republican Party chairman Ben Proto released a statement pushing for the government to reopen saying in part:

“It’s time for the Democrats to come to their senses, including Ned Lamont and other Democrat governors and to push their Democrat senators to vote for the continuing resolution and fund the government and SNAP & WIC and then sit down and negotiate a new budget. To paraphrase President Obama, it is irresponsible for the Democrats to threaten default, to threaten an economic shutdown, to suggest America not pay its bills to keep struggling families from being able to purchase groceries just to try to blackmail a president into giving them some concessions. The financial and economic problems the people of CT face are from the failed economic policies of CT Democrats and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy’s total failure to protect their constituents.”

Professor Marks says as the debate continues, SNAP recipients will remain caught in the middle.

“It’s clear our elective federal representatives need to come forward and figure out a way to eliminate the shutdown and get this government moving again,” he said.