States Blocked From Losing Food Aid Funding Over Data Demands

A federal judge in San Francisco has halted the Trump administration’s plan to cut funding for 22 states that administer food stamp programs. The decision followed a request from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for those states to hand over personal data on millions of SNAP recipients.

Why the Judge Intervened

• Illegal Data Request: The USDA sought names, addresses and immigration status of millions of aid recipients—a request the court deemed illegal.
• Threatened Funding Cuts: The agency threatened to withhold funding unless the states complied.
• Violation of SNAP Rules: The court found the request breached program regulations and posed a risk of sensitive data being shared with unauthorized parties.

The USDA’s Rationale

The agency claimed it needed the data to combat waste and fraud in SNAP. However, the court concluded that this objective did not justify the intrusion into private information.

Impact on SNAP Beneficiaries

• 42 million people depend on SNAP, a program largely funded by the federal government but administered at the state level.
• Illegal immigrants are ineligible for benefits, yet their data could still be requested under the new USDA demands.
• The judge’s order protects the privacy of vulnerable populations, especially those in immigrant communities, while the legal battle continues.

States Involved

• 28 states, mostly led by Republicans, have already complied with the USDA’s request.
• States such as California, New York and Arizona have challenged the request in court.

Current Status

The judge’s order keeps SNAP funding intact and safeguards personal data while the dispute over the legality of the USDA’s request unfolds.