LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is suing to block a Trump administration rule that would require states to share basic data on food stamp recipients.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants Social Security numbers, addresses, and purchasing records from states to tighten safeguards on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves 1.4 million people in Michigan. Nessel argues the mandate is unlawful and has joined 22 other Democratic attorneys general in asking a court to intervene.
“The federal government is illegally demanding sensitive, identifiable information … not to improve the program or fight fraud, but to create a database to use however they choose,” Nessel said in a statement.
Notably, what USDA is demanding now is bulk, state-level transfers rather than the case-by-case information already collected when individuals apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In a May 6 press release, Agriculture Secretary Rollins defended the move, saying, “President Trump is rightfully requiring the federal government to have access to all programs it funds, and SNAP is no exception. For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data.” He added that the request is part of a push to ensure the program is “preserved for only those eligible.”
States that refuse could lose millions in federal funding, including about $254 million for Michigan alone.