Federal Aid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is threatening to withhold money for food stamps from 20 states, including Connecticut and New York, for refusing to share personal information about recipients.

Winter is coming, and advocates fear that the Trump administration's cuts could force thousands more Connecticut residents into homelessness as federal housing aid is slashed by 70%.

The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget said it plans to release more than $184 million in funding for AmeriCorps, after Connecticut, New York and other Democratic-led states sued over the cuts.

The Trump administration recently released $10.8 million in funding for Connecticut’s after-school programs, which is only a small part of the over $50 million in federal education funding that was withheld.

Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said the state will cover 75% of SNAP administrative costs and share benefit expenses, an added $77 million, as federal cuts are expected to reduce assistance for residents.

The Connecticut State Library will discuss how it plans to address potential federal funding cuts in the future.

The U.S. Department of Education is withholding more than $6 billion in funding for the nation’s schools. The money accounts for nearly 12% of funding for K-12 schools in Connecticut, according to CT’s Education Association.

In May, former President Donald Trump announced the end of the Digital Equity Act, cutting over $20 million in planned federal funding to Connecticut that would have supported digital skills training, internet access, and tech resources for underserved communities; funds that many local programs were counting on.

The Connecticut State Library's $2.1 million federal grant was unexpectedly reinstated after the Institute of Museum and Library Services abruptly cut it mid-year. State Librarian Deborah Schander said she’s working to ensure such disruptions don’t happen again, as vital library services remain at risk.

AmeriCorps, the federal community service program that supports volunteers in Connecticut, has been directed to cut $400 million in spending.