Trump is using food stamps as a weapon once more — for a dreadful new purpose

Former President Donald Trump is once again using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, as leverage. Previously, he attempted to block benefits during the government shutdown to pressure Democrats. Now, he is aiming to gather sensitive personal information from SNAP recipients, raising privacy and misuse concerns.

In May, the Agriculture Department under Trump announced plans to create a large database to detect fraud and waste in SNAP. The requested information included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, immigration status, and other details for anyone who had received, applied for, or was receiving SNAP benefits over the last three years.

Thirteen Democratic senators, led by Californias Adam Schiff, criticized the proposal in July, calling it a clear violation of the privacy of millions of Americans and warning that it could breach federal law and erode trust in SNAP.

In response, a coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit to block the data request, arguing it was a pretext to gather information for purposes unrelated to the administration of SNAP, including immigration enforcement. A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily barred the administration from collecting this data from the states.

More than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits each month. While the federal government funds the program, states manage it. Trumps administration claims that many Republican-led states have complied with the data request, but over 20 Democratic-led states have refused. The administration has now threatened to withhold SNAP funds from noncompliant states.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated at a Cabinet meeting that federal funds would stop flowing to states that do not cooperate with the departments efforts to detect fraud, raising legal and ethical concerns.

Experts note that SNAP fraud is not as widespread as suggested. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, most errors in SNAP occur due to mistakes by households or state agencies, not intentional fraud. Overpayments and underpayments largely result from administrative errors, and the program maintains rigorous quality controls. Fraud, when it exists, is often linked to organized crime, such as theft of benefit cards, not individual recipients.

Even if Trumps stated goal is efficiency, the plan to create a detailed database of sensitive information appears unnecessary and potentially harmful. Threatening to cut off food assistance as leverage is widely seen as an aggressive tactic with serious human consequences. Critics argue that it prioritizes political maneuvering over the welfare of millions of Americans who depend on SNAP for basic sustenance.

Author: Ava Mitchell