Federal–State Clash Intensifies Over SNAP Data Demand

December 5, 2025 – The political fight over federal food assistance escalated sharply this week as the Trump administration threatened to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding from states that refuse to turn over detailed personal data on beneficiaries.

About 42 million lower-income Americans, or 1 in 8, rely on SNAP to help buy groceries. The average monthly benefit is about $190 per person, or a little over $6 a day.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said during a Tuesday Cabinet meeting that her department has requested information including names and immigration status of aid recipients. Rollins argued that the data is necessary to “root out fraud” and ensure federal dollars are being used properly. She warned that states declining to cooperate risk losing access to billions in food aid.

Democratic-led states quickly pushed back, calling the demand unprecedented and intrusive. Maryland became the latest to join a multistate lawsuit seeking to block the requirement. Gov. Wes Moore condemned the ultimatum as “reckless” and “cruel,” saying it threatens food security for hundreds of thousands of residents.

State officials argue they already verify eligibility and that federal officials have never before requested such expansive personal data. They say complying would violate privacy protections, undermine public trust, and potentially expose vulnerable families to immigration enforcement or identity theft.

The standoff now heads to the courts, where judges will determine whether the federal government can condition access to critical safety-net funding on states’ willingness to share sensitive information about those who rely on it.