CT Food, Health Programs And Planned Parenthood Among Recipients Of $168M State Funding To Cover Federal Cuts

HARTFORD, CT — Those struggling the most as a result of federal budget cuts to support programs will get some relief, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.

Lamont on Thursday announced that his administration has submitted a plan to the bipartisan leadership of the Connecticut General Assembly to tap into the recently created Emergency State Response Reserve in response to recent federal funding delays and reductions to essential health and human services supports that the T

The reserve was created in November through Special Act 25-1 and contains $500 million in state surplus funding. The enabling statute authorizes the governor to transfer funding from it to support health and human services programs.

This initial plan totals $167.9 million and is intended to reduce the cost of health insurance for more than 150,000 Connecticut residents, provide food for more than 35,000 people, and keep 3,500 people in their homes, Lamont said.

Specifically, the funding includes food and nutrition assistance due to changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); healthcare coverage support in response to the loss of enhanced federal tax credits for those who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act; homelessness prevention and response services due to grant delays in the Continuum of Care program; coverage for the loss of funding to services provided by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England; and additional funding to increase 211 call center capacity in response to an increase in those who are seeking assistance.

“We should be supporting programs that increase access to food, healthcare, and homelessness prevention and response, and it is a shame that the federal government is cutting back on these services that provide a safety net for those who are most in need and which ultimately support the health and safety of our entire country,” Lamont said. “These are services that must continue to be supported, and here in Connecticut we will stand behind them and do what we can to ensure that this most basic assistance remains available.”

Office of Policy and Management Interim Secretary Joshua Wojcik said the funding would cover gaps in essential government programs.

“This is a responsible use of taxpayer resources to support our most vulnerable residents,” he said. “We continue evaluating additional needs and addressing concerns within our communities.”

Specifically, the plan contains the following expenditures:

• $24.5 million for the statewide network of community food banks and pantries to increase their capacity to serve residents impacted by the eligibility changes in SNAP through June 30, 2027;
• $64.1 million to replace the expiring enhanced premium tax credits for residents enrolled in Covered CT, including adjusting the current assessment on total premiums to reimburse carriers for potentially higher utilization in this program through June 30, 2027;
• $50.7 million to replace the loss of enhanced healthcare subsidies for individuals between 100% FPL and 200% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are not on Covered CT and 50% of the lost subsidy for individuals between 400% FPL and 500% FPL during calendar year 2026;
• $5 million in supplemental payments to federally qualified health centers to help promote access to primary and preventive care for those individuals with incomes below 100% of the FPL at risk of losing coverage due to elimination of all federal health plan subsidies through June 30, 2027;
• $6.8 million interim funding for expiring Continuum of Care grants for organizations that provide support to prevent and end homelessness through June 30, 2026, and the continuation of formerly HUD-funded vouchers for supportive housing through June 30, 2027;
• $3.8 million to cover the lost federal reimbursement for services provided by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) facilities during the period July 4, 2025, through July 3, 2026 and replace funding for PPSNE’s frozen federal Title X grant, which provides individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services;
• $4.7 million in additional funding to 211 to support additional call volume and Community Action Agencies to support community outreach and assistance for SNAP recipients in understanding and meeting new eligibility requirements through June 30, 2027;
• $1.5 million in operational costs for the Connecticut Department of Social Services to help Medicaid and SNAP clients meet new eligibility rules and program requirements to the extent possible, including modifying information systems and increasing vendor call center support.

Legislative leaders have 24 hours upon receipt of the plan to review and – if it is their will – disapprove of the expenditures before the funds can be legally transferred, Lamont said.

State Rep. Joe Polletta answers questions about a $168 million state allocation to cover federal funding cutbacks at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT on Dec. 18. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

State Rep. Joe Polletta, R-Watertown, indicated that his party would not necessarily oppose the transfers, but would review them carefully. Poletta is the ranking Republican on the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee.

“These funds were anticipated to be used only for federal cuts. So, speaking for the Republican caucus, we would only be in favor of backfilling federal cuts,” he said Thursday morning. “So we need to make sure that the money is strictly used to backfill federal cuts and … not a grab bag.”

Asked specifically about Planned Parenthood funding, Polletta said the state needed to be careful where it allocates funding.

“We need to make sure that those that truly need the benefits are getting them and it’s not just a blank check to any organization,” he said. In response to a follow-up question, Poletta agreed with the statement that support for the funding was bipartisan, but that could change depending on where the money went.

“If it’s to backfill federal cuts, then fine. If it’s for a wish list, then, no,” he said.