20 States Sue USDA Over SNAP Recipient Data Demand

A coalition of 20 states, led by California and New York, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's demand for personal data from millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The USDA requested extensive information including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, immigration status, household members, and transactional records, covering a five-year period. The states argue that this unprecedented demand violates multiple state and federal privacy laws and breaches the trust between the government and the people it serves. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that the data is intended solely for eligibility verification and cannot be repurposed, accusing the administration of attempting to use the information for immigration enforcement and to instill fear among vulnerable populations. The USDA, citing an executive order from President Trump, insists the data is necessary to identify and eliminate fraud and abuse within SNAP, threatening to withhold funding from noncompliant states. This lawsuit is part of broader concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to access sensitive personal data across federal programs, including IRS and Medicaid, raising alarms among privacy and immigrant advocacy groups.