On July 28, 2025, a coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the agency told states to turn over the detailed, personal information of food assistance applicants and their household members.

The USDA has told states they have until July 30, 2025, to provide data about all applicants to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), over the last five years, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses. The agency broadened the scope of information it is collecting to include other data points, including immigration status and information about household members. While immigrants without legal status are ineligible for SNAP benefits, U.S. citizen children can qualify for the program regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

The suit asserts that the USDA's data collection plan is unconstitutional, violates federal privacy laws and USDA's own authority. In addition to the USDA and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the suit also names the USDA's Office of Inspector General as a defendant, as that office has been separately requesting sensitive data from some states. Read more here.