Investigating SNAP: USDA Digs for Personal Data Amid Privacy Concerns
Agencies USDA and DOGE urge states to share individual data regarding food assistance program beneficiaries
In a surprising turn of events, the Department of Agriculture is demanding states hand over sensitive information of food assistance recipients, including Social Security numbers and addresses, raising alarms about privacy violations.
As the Trump administration pushes to collect and consolidate Americans' personal data, the USDA's sweeping data request comes under scrutiny. Critics argue that the move could be used to make misleading claims, enable deportation, and promote mass surveillance — all while doing little to combat improper payments.
SNAP, the federal food assistance program, is at the heart of this controversy. Each state oversees the program, while the USDA's Office of Inspector General audits state SNAP programs. However, the usual data payments remain under state control, and this latest request from the USDA could change that.
In March, the USDA Office of Inspector General demanded California, Florida, New York, and Texas inspect their SNAP programs to identify improper administrative fund usage for benefit payments. The goal? To gather detailed sensitive information from all SNAP participants in the preceding year, including citizenship status and addresses.
New objectives have been added since the initial demand. The OIG now seeks to evaluate the program's quality and integrity through analytics on participant data. However, the watchdog backs off from requesting employment status or income data, which are vital in determining financial eligibility for food assistance and detecting fraud.
The controversial data fields prioritized in the request include names, dates of birth, addresses, contact information, Social Security numbers, citizenship status, and household member information. Though the USDA did not clarify the full extent of personal data requested, it plans to seek personally identifiable information for SNAP applicants and recipients.
This move is alarming to privacy advocates who argue it could violate the Privacy Act and other statutes. John Davisson, senior counsel and director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, calls it "an unprecedented extension of the administration's campaign to consolidate personal data."
The initiative represents the latest chapter in a broader effort to improve program integrity, building upon President Donald Trump's March 2020 executive order aimed at identifying fraud and overpayments by guaranteeing federal access to comprehensive data across state programs that receive federal funding.
SNAP, or food stamps, is a vital lifeline for millions of Americans. In 2024, it served an average of 42 million people each month, at a staggering cost of $100 billion. This support is crucial, as only some categories of lawfully present noncitizens can receive SNAP benefits, and those without legal status are ineligible. However, a noncitizen parent without legal status may apply for assistance on behalf of their U.S. citizenship children.
Debates around improper payments and fraudulent claims have fueled the USDA's aggressive data collection efforts. In fiscal year 2023, approximately 11% of SNAP benefits distributed were considered improper over- or underpayments. Fewer still — about 1% of those — were linked to issues with states determining citizenship eligibility.
Yet, the specific risks associated with this data collection remain unclear. DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency team, has been accessing sensitive data across the federal government in recent months, and critics fear that the data could be used to justify dismantling government agencies or even serve as a weapon for immigration enforcement efforts.
Numerous federal lawsuits accuse DOGE staffers of illegally accessing personal and financial information, while federal judges have raised concerns about the information accessed and the reasons behind it. Late last month, DHS announced a DOGE-led overhaul of its Systematic Alien Verification Entitlements (SAVE) database, making the system free for state and local governments to use and promising a single, reliable source for verifying non-citizen status nationwide.
It is crucial for SNAP participants to understand the implications of this pending data request. Some legal immigrants who receive SNAP benefits could potentially lose their legal status in the future due to current administration efforts to reverse Biden-era immigration programs. For years, advocates and state agencies have reassured immigrant families that enrolling in assistance would not make them vulnerable to deportation, and it is essential that this trusted message continues to resonate.
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- Critics argue that the USDA's data request for SNAP recipients, which includes sensitive information like Social Security numbers and addresses, could enable immigration enforcement and mass surveillance, potentially violating privacy rights.
- The USDA Office of Inspector General is seeking to gather participant data from states like California, Florida, New York, and Texas to evaluate the program's quality and integrity, despite backlash for prioritizing controversial fields like names, dates of birth, addresses, and citizenship status.
- In the midst of debates surrounding improper payments and fraudulent claims in the SNAP program, the federal government is pushing to access comprehensive data across state programs that receive federal funding, including personal and financial information.
- As the Trump administration continues its efforts to combat improper payments and fraudulent claims, some legal immigrants who receive SNAP benefits may face potential risks, such as losing their legal status due to current administration efforts to reverse Biden-era immigration programs.
