Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Forcing States to Share SNAP Recipient Data

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A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration from forcing states to hand over detailed data on people who have applied for or received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The judge said the administration cannot require states to provide information like the immigration status of SNAP recipients, which the government claims is needed to combat fraud.

Why it matters

This ruling is a victory for states, many of which have Democratic governors, who argued that sharing such personal data on SNAP recipients could allow it to be used for immigration enforcement purposes, which they say would be illegal. The battle over SNAP records is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to cut off federal funding to states led by Democrats.

The details

Last year, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture from requiring states to provide the SNAP recipient data. The department kept pushing for the information, threatening to stop paying state administrative costs if they didn't comply. But Chesney said during a hearing on Friday that she intends to issue an order stating the federal government cannot act on its previous demands for the data.

• In December 2025, the USDA told states it would stop paying state administrative costs for SNAP if they didn't provide the requested data.
• In 2025, Judge Chesney initially blocked the USDA from requiring states to provide the SNAP recipient data.

What’s next

Judge Chesney is expected to issue a formal order in the coming days that will prevent the federal government from acting on its previous demands for SNAP recipient data from the states.