Poll: Two-thirds of CT voters think federal cuts to social service programs have gone too far; 86 percent say the state should help mitigate the cuts.
(Hartford, CT) – Sixty-five percent of Connecticut’s voters say the Trump Administration has gone too far in cutting funding for social service programs and an overwhelming 86 percent say it is important that the state of Connecticut step in to ensure those programs are funded, according to a recent poll conducted on behalf of the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance.
The poll found that a majority of voters, 54 percent, believe the state should modify the fiscal guardrails that limit how state tax dollars are spent to allow for more spending on vital programs, such as community nonprofits. Further, 56 percent of voters said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who wants to adjust the fiscal guardrails to support vital programs, while only 16 percent said they would be less likely to do so.
Voters had a positive view of community nonprofits, with 92 percent saying they play a critically important or important role in providing services to Connecticut residents. At the same time, a majority of voters said the state is not spending enough on housing, reducing homelessness or mental health services, and nearly half noted the lack of spending on health care, food insecurity and social services for vulnerable people.
The poll of 602 registered voters was conducted by STATS Group for The Alliance in August 2026 and has a margin of error of +/-4 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence.
“An overwhelming number of Connecticut voters believe that state government should step in to support nonprofits whose important work is being impacted by federal funding cuts, and they are more likely to vote for candidates for public office who will do so,” Gian Carl Casa, President & CEO of The Alliance, said.
Casa said the polling is welcome news for nonprofits, whose work across the state includes day and residential services for people with developmental disabilities, mental health and substance abuse treatment, homeless and domestic violence shelters and other social service programs, make our cities and towns safer and better places to live for everyone.
Casa continued, “We are fortunate that Connecticut’s tax revenues continue to produce more than is needed to pay for appropriations, and projections show that strong revenues will continue in the coming years. In the face of federal funding cuts, we have the resources and the public backing to support community nonprofits.”
Detailed polling report here.
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