Summary
At least 27 U.S. states have shared personal data of people receiving food assistance with the USDA. This data request by the Trump administration aims to identify misuse in the SNAP program. A court has temporarily blocked the government from penalizing states that refuse to provide this data.
Key Facts
- The USDA requested personal information from states about people using the SNAP program since 2020.
- SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps around 42 million Americans each month.
- The data requested includes names, birth dates, addresses, Social Security numbers, and benefit amounts.
- States with Republican governors mostly complied with the data request.
- Democratic-led states argue the data request is unlawful and may be used for immigration enforcement.
- A U.S. judge issued an order preventing the government from withholding SNAP funds from states refusing the data request.
- The Trump administration claims the data is needed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the SNAP program.
- Philip Rocco, a political scientist, noted the request is unusual for federal-state interactions.
