Federal Judge Blocks USDA from Withholding SNAP Funds Over Missing New York Data

Ruling prevents federal agency from penalizing states that don't share personal info of benefit recipients

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop withholding food assistance funds from New York and other states that haven't shared personal data about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, including names, Social Security numbers, home addresses, and immigration statuses. The ruling enforces an injunction that allows states to keep SNAP money and recipients to maintain their privacy while a related lawsuit proceeds.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between federal data collection efforts and state-level privacy protections for social welfare program participants. The ruling is a victory for states seeking to balance program integrity with beneficiary confidentiality, though it does not impact new federal work requirements for able-bodied adult SNAP recipients.

The details

In November and December 2025, the USDA demanded records about households eligible for SNAP from states that blocked access to information like Social Security numbers. U.S. District Court Judge Maxine Chesney issued an order prohibiting cuts to SNAP funding for states that refused to comply with these demands. The USDA argued the data was needed for a new integrity team to combat welfare fraud, while New York and other states said they could not legally violate privacy protections for applicants.

  • On February 26, 2026, a federal judge extended a previous court order and prevented the USDA from penalizing states that haven't shared SNAP recipient data.
  • New federal work requirements for able-bodied adult SNAP recipients are set to take effect on March 1, 2026, with a grace period until June 1.

The players

Letitia James

New York Attorney General who announced the federal court ruling on social media.

Maxine Chesney

U.S. District Court Judge who issued the order prohibiting USDA cuts to SNAP funding for states that refused to share recipient data.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The federal agency that demanded personal data on SNAP recipients from states and threatened to withhold funding.

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What they’re saying

“As our lawsuit continues, I'll keep fighting to ensure New York families can get access to the food assistance they need without fearing for their safety.”

— Letitia James, New York Attorney General (Twitter)

What’s next

The federal judge's ruling will remain in effect as the related lawsuit continues through the courts. New federal work requirements for able-bodied adult SNAP recipients are still set to take effect on March 1, 2026, with a grace period until June 1.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over balancing program integrity and data collection efforts by the federal government against the need to protect the privacy and confidentiality of social welfare program participants at the state level. The ruling is a win for states seeking to maintain beneficiary privacy, though it does not impact new federal work requirements for SNAP.