Trump to stop food aid support for Democratic-led states due to data dispute

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has announced it will suspend federal funding that supports the management of the food stamp program in states led by Democrats next week if they fail to provide data on aid recipients, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Officials in Democratic states, along with federal authorities, have opposed the U.S. Department of Agricultures request for information such as social security numbers and immigration status of those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, arguing that it constitutes an illegal invasion of privacy. The USDA maintains that this information is necessary to prevent fraud within the program.

"Starting next week, we will halt federal payments to these states until they comply," Rollins stated during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. She later reinforced the position on X, saying, "States that refuse to provide data on criminal activity related to SNAP benefits will not receive a single dollar in federal SNAP administrative funding."

While the federal government funds SNAP benefits, individual states oversee program administration and maintain their own records of recipients. Administrative costs are shared between the USDA and the states. Upcoming federal legislation, titled the "One Big Beautiful Bill," is expected to transfer a larger portion of administrative expensesand some benefit coststo the states.

In July, Democratic governors from 22 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the USDA over the data request. A federal judge ruled in October that SNAP funding could not be withheld from states for not providing the requested information. The USDA has not yet responded to requests for further comment.

According to a letter from the USDA in November, 28 states have submitted the requested data. Nearly 42 million Americans currently receive SNAP benefits.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell)

Author: Sophia Brooks