Wed Dec 03 02:41:02 UTC 2025: Trump Administration Threatens to Cut SNAP Funding to States Refusing Data Demand
Washington D.C. – The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from 21 states and the District of Columbia that are refusing to comply with a demand to turn over detailed data on program recipients.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the decision at a cabinet meeting this Tuesday, stating that states refusing to share data like Social Security numbers, birth dates, and home addresses would see their SNAP funding suspended as early as next week. Rollins claims the data is needed to combat fraud and ensure benefits reach those who truly need them.
The move is part of an ongoing legal battle between the USDA and a coalition of primarily Democratic-leaning states. These states argue that the data request represents an invasion of privacy and an overreach of federal authority. A temporary restraining order and injunction have already been issued by a California court, blocking the administration from enforcing the request.
“Genuine question: Why is the Trump Administration so hellbent on people going hungry?” questioned New York Governor Kathy Hochul, reacting to the announcement. Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee also condemned the action, accusing the administration of “weaponizing hunger.”
Rollins countered, accusing the states of protecting “bribery schemes” and insisting that “NO DATA, NO MONEY.”
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that 11.7% of SNAP benefits were “improper” in fiscal year 2023, amounting to $10.5 billion. However, this figure includes both overpayments and underpayments to eligible recipients.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has attempted to leverage SNAP funding. During a government shutdown earlier this year, the USDA threatened to halt SNAP benefits, a move critics saw as a tactic to pressure Democrats into supporting the Republican budget. That attempt was thwarted by court orders.
The legality of Rollins’s latest threat remains uncertain, given the existing court orders and the strong opposition from Democratic leaders. The situation is developing and will have significant implications for millions of Americans relying on food assistance.
First Piper 