California joins lawsuit to stop USDA demand for SNAP user information July 29 (UPI) -- A group of 22 states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from forcing states to give information about residents receiving SNAP benefits. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday that he has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general, including New York Attorney General Letitia James , who have filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA. According to a press release from Bonta's office, the USDA is demanding that states turn over "personal and sensitive information" about millions of recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits. SNAP is a federally funded program, administered by states, designed to provide food assistance to low-income families across the United States. This program supplies billions of dollars in assistance to millions of families, and recipients must provide personal information as part of the application process, with the understanding – backed by longstanding state and federal laws – that this information will not be used for unrelated purposes. The lawsuit alleges that the USDA is threatening to withhold SNAP funding unless states turn over this sensitive data, effectively forcing states to choose between protecting residents' privacy and providing critical nutrition assistance to those in need. The case centers on a demand issued by the USDA in May, requiring California to supply a substantial amount of personal information about all SNAP applicants and recipients, including social security numbers and home addresses, dating back five years. This request would impact over 5 million Californians.

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday that he has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general, including New York Attorney General Letitia James , who have filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA. According to a press release from Bonta's office, the USDA is demanding that states turn over "personal and sensitive information" about millions of recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits. SNAP is a federally funded program, administered by states, designed to provide food assistance to low-income families across the United States. This program supplies billions of dollars in assistance to millions of families, and recipients must provide personal information as part of the application process, with the understanding – backed by longstanding state and federal laws – that this information will not be used for unrelated purposes. The lawsuit alleges that the USDA is threatening to withhold SNAP funding unless states turn over this sensitive data, effectively forcing states to choose between protecting residents' privacy and providing critical nutrition assistance to those in need. The case centers on a demand issued by the USDA in May, requiring California to supply a substantial amount of personal information about all SNAP applicants and recipients, including social security numbers and home addresses, dating back five years. This request would impact over 5 million Californians. "This isn't just about data; it's about making sure families aren't forced to choose between feeding their kids and exposing themselves to government retaliation." He further highlighted the potential consequences, stating, "We're talking about kids not getting school lunch; fire victims not accessing emergency services; and other devastating, and deadly, consequences."

Bonta asserted that the USDA’s actions violate state and federal privacy laws and erode trust between the government and its citizens. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that New York had joined the lawsuit, adding that the federal government’s illegal request includes each SNAP recipient’s immigration status. James stated, "Families should be able to get the assistance they need without fearing that they will be targeted by this administration." The lawsuit’s docket includes a letter from the USDA on Friday, demanding that states submit SNAP participant data by Wednesday, threatening "noncompliance procedures." California, which receives approximately $1 billion annually to administer SNAP, fears a federal delay in funding could be "catastrophic for the state and its residents who rely on SNAP to put food on the table." Bonta concluded, "The president doesn't get to change the rules in the middle of the game, no matter how much he may want to." He added, "While he may be comfortable breaking promises to the American people, California is not." "We will not comply with this illegal demand," he asserted. "We'll see the President in court."