We write as constituents from Greenwich dedicated to food system transformation in Connecticut. It is incumbent upon us as food justice advocates and caring citizens to express our concern regarding billions of dollars in proposed cuts and administrative changes to nutrition assistance programs, most critically, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
We denounce actions taken to find savings for the budget reconciliation bill from reforms to SNAP, such as stronger work requirements and cost-sharing with states. Cutting into nutrition assistance programs further compromises democratic principles already in peril.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food security measures, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), emerged in the 1940s after World War II with a complex set of objectives. These programs initially served, in part, to manage overproduced commodities through charity-based food and nutrition security systems, but did so within a framework that has inadvertently contributed to the growth of ‘Big Ag’ and ‘Big Food.’
Despite their complex intent, these programs address critical issues like hunger and malnutrition, stimulate economic development, help prevent social unrest, and contribute to a more peaceful society. Serving mostly children and seniors, SNAP and NSLP stand as the country’s largest and second-largest food security safety-nets.
As a nation bound by our shared responsibility for one another’s welfare, we must protect these programs from any endangerment and recognize their role in preserving peace, nourishing our most vulnerable populations, and strengthening our democracy.
Connecticut faces a deepening food insecurity crisis. The 2025 Map the Meal Gap report reveals that one in seven Connecticut residents, or 14.3% of the state’s population, are food insecure. This translates to over 516,000 people struggling with hunger, a concerning increase of more than 10% from the previous year. Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, underscores the severity of the situation, stating, “The new Map the Meal Gap report confirms that food insecurity is getting worse in Connecticut and it’s getting harder to address.”
In 2024, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provided a crucial safety net for nearly 400,000 Connecticut residents, representing one in nine state residents. A total of $885 million in SNAP benefits were disbursed that year. However, it is important to recognize that many recipients received limited assistance, with some seniors’ monthly benefits amounting to as little as $60.
