The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal agriculture funds from 21 Democrat-led states that refuse to provide detailed food stamp recipient data demanded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that the administration will begin halting transfers of certain federal funds to states that have failed to comply with data-sharing requests related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Speaking during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Rollins said the measure is intended to “root out fraud and protect taxpayers.”
According to Rollins, the USDA requested full records from all 50 states in February, seeking identifying details on individuals receiving food aid to help verify eligibility and reduce waste. She said 29 Republican-led states have submitted the information, while 21 Democrat-led states “continue to say no.”
“The administration will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states next week until they comply,” Rollins said, describing the move as a necessary enforcement action to ensure accountability within the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
A subsequent USDA statement offered slightly different figures, noting that “28 states and Guam joined us in this fight,” but specifically cited “states like California, New York, and Minnesota, among 19 other blue states,” as holdouts. The agency did not explain the discrepancy in the numbers provided by Rollins.
The dispute marks the latest clash between Washington and Democrat-led states over SNAP oversight. Roughly one in eight Americans depend on the program each month, according to federal statistics. USDA officials argue that access to state-level data is critical to detect improper payments and prevent ineligible participants from receiving benefits.
Democrat governors and privacy advocates, however, have objected to the administration’s demand, saying it would expose sensitive personal information, including data potentially tied to immigration status. They contend that the request oversteps federal authority and undermines existing privacy protections.
A coalition of Democratic states has already filed lawsuits challenging related USDA directives, warning that additional litigation will follow if funding is withheld.
In its latest communication to state officials, the USDA said another formal data request has been sent and that noncompliant states will soon receive written notice that administrative funds used to operate SNAP could be suspended. The department has not yet specified which funding streams may be targeted or how soon affected states would feel the impact.
The standoff underscores deepening partisan divisions over welfare administration and federal oversight, with billions in annual food assistance now tied to a widening legal and political fight.
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