WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has announced plans to withhold SNAP food assistance from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states unless these states comply with federal requests for comprehensive data concerning aid recipients, including names and immigration status.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized during a Cabinet meeting that this measure is intended to tackle fraud in the SNAP program, which currently assists around 42 million Americans. Despite the administration’s claims, Democratic officials have raised concerns about whether the cuts will actually take effect, and have criticized the demand for sensitive data.
Marissa Saldivar, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, stated, “We no longer take the Trump Administration’s words at face value — we’ll see what they actually do in reality. Cutting programs that feed American children is morally repugnant.”
Democratic states have rallied against the administration's directive, having already filed lawsuits aimed at halting the data collection efforts. They argue that they already implement rigorous checks for eligibility without needing to distribute extensive private information to the federal government.
Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut argued that the administration is mischaracterizing the SNAP program, stating, “Individuals who are just trying to buy food, those aren’t the ones who are gaming the system.”
Despite these challenges, the federal government maintains that it needs the additional data to mitigate fraud, citing examples like deceased persons continuing to receive benefits. Rollins stated, “To ensure that the American taxpayer is protected, we need to partner with states to accurately monitor the benefits count.”
Twenty-two states plus the District of Columbia previously filed lawsuits to contest the request for information from earlier this year. A federal judge has temporarily barred the administration from enforcing the data collection until further litigation is resolved.
The ongoing controversy has brought SNAP — a program generally below the political radar — into sharp focus, especially as work requirements for benefits are expected to expand under new policy changes. Legislators warn that these developments could further jeopardize food access for Americans who rely on the assistance.
