US Judge Rules Trump Cannot Force States to Supply Food Stamp Data

A Federal Judge on 2/26/2026, Blocked Trump's (R)( Administration from Cutting Off Funding for 22 Democratic-led States to Administer Food Stamp Benefits, unless they Turned Over Data on Millions of People who received the Aid.

U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney in San Francisco, issued a Preliminary Injunction Varring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from Halting Funding based on Demands it made in recent months, for the States to Supply Data on Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits.

State Attorneys General had Asked the Judge to Block USDA from doing so, saying it was Threatening to Cut Off Administrative Funding for the Program, Despite an Earlier Ruling by Chesney Preventing it from Stripping them of Funding for SNAP.

The USDA in Letters sent to the Sstates in November and December, had Renewed its Demands for Information including the Names, Addresses, and Immigration Status of Individuals in those States who sought Aid through the Government's Food Aid Program for Low-Income People.

About 42 Million People receive Benefits from SNAP, which is Largely Funded by the Federal Government and Administered by States. Immigrants who are in the U.S. Illegally are Not Eligible for SNAP.

The Agency said it Needed the Data to Fulfill the Administration's Goal of Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Government Assistance Programs and had Established New Protocols to Secure the Data.

But Chesney, an Appointee of President Bill Clinton (D), said the USDA's Demands for Data and Threats to Cut-Off Funding appeared Contrary to the Law governing SNAP, and that the Agency's Protocols would Allow it to Improperly share Data with Unauthorized Entities.

Twenty-Eight States, Largely Led by Republicans, have so far Submitted the Data the USDA sought, according to a 11/2025 Letter from the Agency.

Among the States that Challenged the USDA's Demand were: Arizona, California, and New York.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) in a Ssocial Mmedia Post, said 2/26/2026's Ruling would Protect SNAP Data "for millions of vulnerable people and our immigrant communities."










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