States Sue USDA Over Efforts to Gather Food Stamp Data on Tens of Millions of People
July 28, 2025 | Source: NPR | by Jude Joffe-Block
A coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit Monday against the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the federal agency told states to turn over the detailed, personal information of food assistance applicants and their household members.
The USDA has told states they have until July 30 to turn over data about all applicants to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, over the last five years, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses. Last week, the agency broadened the scope of information it is collecting to include other data points, including immigration status and information about household members.
USDA has suggested states that do not comply could lose funds.
The new federal lawsuit, led by Democratic attorneys general from California and New York, argues the USDA has not followed protocols outlined in various federal privacy laws. The states are asking a judge to block USDA from making its data demand or withholding funds from states that do not turn over the data.