U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has threatened to strip federal funds from Democratic states that are currently fighting orders to turn over data on food aid recipients.
On Tuesday, during the last Cabinet meeting of the year, Rollins spoke about the ongoing lawsuit brought by 21 states and the District of Columbia against President Donald Trump’s administration.
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Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has required states to hand over certain information about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries.
SNAP, also known as food stamps, helps low-income households buy groceries. Approximately 41.7 million people were using the program as of fiscal year 2024, representing nearly 12% of U.S. residents.
The USDA order requires states to provide federal authorities with information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth and home addresses. Critics worry that such data transfers could constitute an invasion of privacy.
But Rollins told the Cabinet that the information was needed to address the fraud allegations and “protect American taxpayers.”
“For the first time, we are calling on all states to turn over their data to the federal government and work with the Department of Agriculture to root out this fraud and ensure food stamps are available to the people who really need them,” she said.
She said resistance to her demands was a matter of partisan politics.
“Twenty-nine states said yes, and of course the red states too. And that’s where all the data on fraud comes from,” Rollins continued. “But 21 states (blue states) continue to say no, including California, New York, and Minnesota.”
As a result, Democratic-leaning states will lose access to federal aid for SNAP recipients, Rollins said.
“So, starting next week, we have begun, and will begin, halting the flow of federal funds to these states until they comply,” she said.
Ongoing legal issues
It’s unclear whether Rollins will be able to carry out his threat.
In September, a federal district court in Northern California issued a temporary restraining order barring the federal government from enforcing the data request. Another hearing on the issue was held in October, and another preliminary injunction was granted.
“Let’s be clear: the president is trying to hijack our nutrition program to further his mass surveillance agenda,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, said in a statement after the October ruling.
“We will not tolerate that on our watch or in our community.”
Tuesday’s announcement that the states involved in the lawsuit would allow federal SNAP funds to be suspended drew outrage from some Democratic leaders.
“A genuine question: Why is the Trump administration so obsessed with people going hungry?” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on social media with a link to Rollins’ remarks.
Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee also issued a statement condemning the Trump administration’s plan.
“Once again, Mr. Trump and Mr. Rollins are unlawfully threatening to withhold federal funds. SNAP has one of the lowest fraud rates of any government program, yet Mr. Trump continues to weaponize hunger,” the statement said.
But Rollins hit back on social media, accusing the states of trying to protect a “bribery scheme,” an unsubstantiated claim.
“No data or money required. It’s so easy,” she writes. “If states do not share data on the criminal use of SNAP benefits, they will not receive a dollar of federal SNAP administration funding.”
Would you like to take advantage of SNAP?
Last year, the General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report finding that 11.7% of SNAP benefits distributed in fiscal year 2023 were “inappropriate.” These fraudulent payments amounted to approximately $10.5 billion.
However, those “inappropriate” expenditures also included overpayments and underpayments to legitimate recipients, the report said.
Tuesday’s threat also wasn’t the first time the Trump administration has called for an end to SNAP funds.
During this year’s government shutdown, which lasted a record 43 days, the Department of Agriculture announced it would not pay SNAP benefits for November.
Critics have accused the Trump administration of using food aid to pressure Democratic lawmakers to pass Republican-approved budgets, and dozens of states have filed suit.
Two federal courts sided with the states and ordered the federal government to resume funding. The Trump administration then appealed to the Supreme Court, which stayed the lower court’s ruling.
The impasse ultimately ended with the end of the government shutdown on November 12th.
