New USDA data shows Connecticut SNAP enrollment dropped 11.8%, or 43,000 people, from December 2024 to December 2025 — the fifth-largest percentage decline of any state
The Republican federal budget, signed by Trump on July 4, 2025, expanded work requirements, cut nutrition education funding, and raised costs for states administering SNAP
Nationally, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the Republican budget will strip SNAP coverage from more than 2.4 million American citizens as federal food aid spending falls by $187 billion over 10 years
New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the federal budget passed last year by Republicans and Donald Trump has led to an 11.8% drop in people participating in Connecticut’s SNAP program – the fifth-largest percentage drop of any state in America.
The National Conference of State Legislatures said this week that monthly SNAP enrollment numbers across America fluctuated during the first half of 2025, but began a steady decline following enactment of the budget bill. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Republican budget will result in more than 2.4 million American citizens losing their SNAP coverage as federal spending decreases by $187 billion over the next decade and as states are required to implement expanded work requirements and new eligibility rules.
SNAP enrollment in Connecticut dropped 11.8%, or 43,000 people, from December 2024 to December 2025; the Republican budget was signed into law by Trump on July 4, 2025. The average national decrease in SNAP usage over that time period was 8%.
Nationally, about 39% of SNAP recipients are children, 20% are elderly, and 10% are nonelderly individuals with a disability. The average benefit in 2023 was $177 per person, per month – about $6 per day
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gives people in Connecticut help to buy food. It used to be called “food stamps.” SNAP benefits include a monthly stipend on a debit-like EBT card to buy food, free education and job training through SNAP, and free budget-friendly and healthy recipes and nutrition tips. SNAP allows you to buy food items only – but not beer, wine, cigarettes, vitamins, pet food, cleaning supplies or personal products like deodorant, cosmetics and diapers.
The Republican budget enacted strict new rules for Americans to receive federal food aid, including: expanded work requirements; no more nutrition education funding; refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking survivors losing access to SNAP; the state administrative share of managing the SNAP program has risen from 50% to 75%; and states will now have to pay a penalty if their error rates for SNAP payouts (plus or minus 5%) exceed certain parameters.
By Lawrence Cook
