USDA, DOGE demand states hand over personal data about food stamp recipients

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 9, 2025 3:55 PM ET


The Department of Agriculture is demanding states hand over personal data of food assistance recipients — including Social Security numbers, addresses and, in at least one state, citizenship status, according to emails shared with NPR by an official who was not allowed to speak publicly. The sweeping and unprecedented request comes as the Trump administration ramps up the collection and consolidation of Americans' sensitive data, and as that data has been used to make misleading claims about people in the U.S. illegally accessing public benefits and committing fraud, and to build a greater capacity to deport them.

The emails obtained by NPR also show the nationwide directive regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, follows a request by federal auditors for information that included citizenship data but not other data typically used to verify financial eligibility for the program.

In 2024, SNAP served an average of 42 million people each month, according to the Department of Agriculture, at a cost of $100 billion. Only some categories of lawfully present noncitizens are eligible to receive SNAP benefits, and those without legal status can never qualify. However, a noncitizen parent without legal status may apply for the assistance on behalf of their children who are U.S. citizens.

The latest data demands are "absolutely alarming," and "reckless" and likely violate the Privacy Act and other statutes, said John Davisson, senior counsel and director of litigation at the nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center. He and other advocates warn the data could be used to enable deportation and mass surveillance efforts and would do little to address improper payments. "It is an unprecedented extension of the administration's campaign to consolidate personal data," Davisson said.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/nx-s1-5389952/usda-snap-doge-data-immigration

[LW1977]

1. How About: "Fuck you, Doge!"

Fick Dich!

[cbabe]

2. Thanks. Also previous post with comments:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20305029

[choie]

3. Not only are they trying to find immigrants information for deportation,

but they are trying to create such extreme fear in people that they will refuse to apply for SNAP and those with SNAP will withdraw.

[Bayard]

5. Exactly

They are finding more terrorization in the U.S. now, than what they fled from previously

[riversedge]

4. I imagine that Red states or states with Repug Governors will hand over the information. IMHO!!