Judge Rules Against Trump Administration's Demand for SNAP Recipient Data

Federal government cannot force states to provide detailed information on SNAP applicants and recipients, judge says.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that the Trump administration cannot force states to hand over detailed information on people who have applied for or received aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The judge said she intends to issue an order blocking the federal government from acting on its demands for the data, which the administration claims is needed to stamp out fraud and waste.

Why it matters

This ruling is a victory for states, many of which argued that providing the data could allow the federal government to share it with immigration enforcement authorities, which they say would be illegal. SNAP is a major social safety net program, helping millions of Americans buy groceries, and the administration's push for the data has been seen as part of a broader effort to cut off federal funding to states led by Democrats.

The details

Last year, 22 states sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it moved to require states to provide detailed information on SNAP applicants and recipients, including on their immigration status. A judge blocked the policy, but the department kept pushing for the data, threatening to stop paying state administrative costs if they didn't comply. The states argued this would be illegal, and the judge said she intends to rule that the federal government cannot act on its demands.

  • 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 February 2026, the judge held a hearing and said she intends to issue an order blocking the federal government's demands.

The players

Maxine Chesney

A U.S. District Judge in San Francisco who is presiding over the case.

Donald Trump

The former president whose administration sought to require states to provide detailed data on SNAP recipients.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The federal agency that sought to require states to provide detailed information on SNAP applicants and recipients.

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What’s next

The judge is expected to issue a formal order in the coming days or weeks blocking the federal government's demands for the SNAP recipient data.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to obtain detailed information on SNAP recipients, which it claimed was necessary to combat fraud but which states argued could be used for improper purposes like sharing data with immigration authorities. The decision underscores the ongoing legal battles between Democratic-led states and the federal government over social safety net programs.