SNAP benefits have officially expired, leaving hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents without critical food assistance. The Trump administration has until 5 p.m. Monday to respond to a ruling which could allow the use of contingency funds to keep the program running during the ongoing government shutdown.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned that it no longer has the funding to deliver November food benefits. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and three governors in suing the Trump administration over the funding lapse, saying the funds do exist in a contingency fund.

Federal judges in RI and MA have ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release federal SNAP benefits by noon on Monday.

Groups like Connecticut Voices for Children and Connecticut Social Services are encouraging SNAP recipients to spend their benefits before Nov. 1.

Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne is directing the Archbishop's Annual Appeal to release $500,000 in emergency funding to food banks across Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties.

Connecticut will spend $3 million to partially supplement federal food aid benefits for residents during the government shutdown.

With a federal government shutdown likely to expand into November, hundreds of thousands of people in Connecticut will not receive November SNAP benefits.

As the federal government shutdown rolls into its second month, questions mount for people relying on a range of federally-funded benefits. Connecticut lawmakers are negotiating the parameters of a bill to set aside as much as $500 million to help households relying on various assistance programs and subsidies.

It is wrong to starve people so you can bring your political opponents to heel. It is wrong to starve people into submission, and that is what this president is doing,” Attorney General

Over 40 million Americans could lose access to federal food assistance Saturday if the government shutdown continues into November.