States Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Privacy Concerns

On July 28–29, 2025, 20 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. filed a federal lawsuit in California to contest a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directive issued under the Trump administration. The directive requires states to submit sensitive personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, sparking concerns over privacy violations and potential misuse.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James lead the coalition which includes states such as Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon and Kentucky. The lawsuit seeks to block the USDA’s request for detailed information on over 42 million SNAP recipients.

What’s the Core Issue?

The USDA has demanded that states provide extensive personal data on SNAP recipients including:

• Names

• Birthdates

• Social Security numbers

• Home addresses

• Immigration status

• Household income

This data, covering at least five years is demanded under the threat of withholding federal SNAP funding for noncompliant states. The coalition argues that this mandate violates federal privacy laws and risks deterring vulnerable populations from accessing critical food assistance.

Legal Arguments and Broader Implications

Breach of Privacy Laws

The states contend that the USDA’s directive violates key federal statutes, including:

• Privacy Act

• Paperwork Reduction Act

• Constitutional protections under the Spending Clause

These laws protect individuals’ personal information and restrict federal overreach into state-administered programs.

Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement

Advocates highlight the risk that the collected data could be used for immigration enforcement or mass deportation efforts particularly impacting mixed-status households. This could discourage eligible families from participating in SNAP worsening food insecurity.

Redundant Data Collection

The USDA justifies the request as a measure to prevent waste and fraud. However, the states argue that SNAP already employs a rigorous quality control system making the extensive data demand unnecessary and overly intrusive.

Timeline of Key Events

May 2025 :USDA issues directive demanding SNAP recipient data, with threats of funding cuts. June 3, 2025 : USDA pauses data collection for privacy review; no data has been collected yet. July 28–29, 2025 : 20 states and D.C. file a federal lawsuit in California seeking an injunction.

This landmark lawsuit, led by 20 states and D.C., challenges what the coalition describes as an unlawful federal overreach by the USDA. By defending SNAP recipients’ privacy and preventing potential data misuse the case could establish critical protections for privacy rights federal-state dynamics, and social welfare programs.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the SNAP data lawsuit about?

The lawsuit, filed by 20 states and Washington, D.C., challenges a USDA directive under the Trump administration to collect sensitive personal data from SNAP recipients, citing privacy violations and potential misuse.

2. Why is the USDA requesting recipient data?

The USDA claims the data is needed to address waste and fraud, but the states argue that SNAP’s existing quality control measures make the request unnecessary.

2. Which states are part of the lawsuit?

The coalition includes California, New York, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Kentucky, and 12 other states, plus Washington, D.C.

4. What are the risks of the USDA’s data demand?

The data could be used for immigration enforcement, deterring eligible families from accessing SNAP and increasing food insecurity risks.

5. What is the status of the lawsuit as of July 2025?

As of July 29, 2025, the lawsuit is active in a California federal court, with the states seeking an injunction to halt the USDA’s directive.