HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — On the first day of the federal government shutdown, Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) said the state of Connecticut stands ready to backstop lost funding from Washington — at least in the near term.

Top of mind for Lamont and the group of state officials he's been huddling with to prepare for the present federal shutdown are the impacts on food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides nutritional support for mothers and young children.

Connecticut has reserves available to keep those programs operating, even as federal funding lapses and Congress still seems far from a deal. But if the shutdown extends through the month of October, the state might be in a more difficult position.

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