Judge halts USDA demand for SNAP recipient information
In a major legal win for privacy protection, a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) request for personal and sensitive data from millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Nick Brown and other states, who argued that the USDA’s demand violates federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. The court’s order temporarily prevents the agency from enforcing its directive while the case continues.
“The last thing people struggling to put food on the table need to worry about is the federal government demanding access to their private information,” said Brown. “I’m grateful that our coalition has secured this court order protecting Washingtonians’ privacy.”
SNAP, a vital federally funded program administered by states, supports millions of low-income families by providing food assistance. Applicants provide personal data under long-standing privacy protections that restrict unrelated use of their information.
The USDA, however, threatened to withhold administrative funding if states failed to comply with its unprecedented demand. This would have forced states like Washington—receiving about $129.5 million annually for SNAP administration—to choose between protecting privacy or ensuring continued food aid.
The injunction ensures that Washington residents can continue receiving food assistance without the risk of privacy violations. It also reinforces the importance of maintaining data protections for vulnerable populations relying on government support.
A copy of the court’s order is available for public review, marking an important step toward safeguarding citizens’ privacy rights and preventing misuse of sensitive information in federal programs.
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