States Sue USDA Over Controversial SNAP Data Demand Ahead of July 30 Deadline

A coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its controversial demand for extensive personal data from millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants and recipients. This significant legal challenge comes just one day before a critical July 30 deadline, by which states are mandated to surrender sensitive information including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and even immigration status for SNAP applicants over the past five years.

Led by the Democratic attorneys general of California and New York, the lawsuit argues that the USDA’s directive, which began collecting data on July 24, violates federal privacy laws and established protocols. States contend that the agency’s data collection is an “Orwellian surveillance campaign” designed to deter eligible individuals from seeking food assistance, particularly impacting mixed-status families. The USDA has threatened to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply with the data demand.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “SNAP recipients provided this information to get help feeding their families not to be entered into a government surveillance database or be used as targets in the president’s inhumane immigration agenda.” The lawsuit also highlights concerns that the collected data could be shared with law enforcement and other agencies, including foreign governments, for purposes unrelated to SNAP integrity.

While the USDA claims the collection is for fraud prevention, states argue existing anti-fraud measures are sufficient and that the new demand is an unconstitutional overreach of authority. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed alarm over anecdotal reports of families avoiding SNAP benefits due to fear of immigration enforcement. This new legal battle marks the second challenge to the USDA’s data plan, following an earlier lawsuit by anti-hunger and privacy groups.

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