Privacy Advocates Fight USDA’s Demand for Food Stamp Recipient Data

Privacy advocates are raising serious concerns over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) request for detailed personal data of millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. These advocates are urging states to resist complying with what they deem an unlawful and intrusive demand.

The controversy stems from the USDA seeking sensitive information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, from as far back as January 1, 2020. The agency intends to collect this data through third-party payment processors that contract with states, purportedly to ensure program integrity and verify recipient eligibility.

This move is linked to President Trump’s executive order aimed at eliminating information silos to combat waste and fraud. However, critics argue this data grab represents an overreach, potentially leading to unprecedented government surveillance.

Nicole Schneidman, an attorney with Protect Democracy, warns that compliance from private companies would establish a dangerous precedent, allowing the federal government to bypass states’ rights to control their own data.

Fidelity Information Services (FIS), a major SNAP payment processor, initially signaled its intent to comply, requesting states’ consent to share the data. This prompted a swift response from a coalition of legal groups, who sent letters to FIS and other processors (Conduent and Solutran), asserting that the USDA’s request violates federal laws like the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Conduent has stated they understand the importance of protecting privacy data and are communicating directly with their clients (the states) about the USDA’s request.

The USDA has warned that failure to comply may result in noncompliance procedures. However, several states are carefully reviewing the request and considering legal options to protect their residents’ privacy.

Summer Griffith, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services, expressed concerns about the potential for unlawful data sharing among federal agencies and affirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting individual privacy.

This situation is unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing legal battles regarding the current administration’s access to sensitive personal and financial records. Previously, the USDA’s Office of Inspector General had sought even more extensive data, including citizenship status.

The USDA maintains that all personally identifiable information will be handled in compliance with privacy laws and responsible data handling requirements.

Key Concerns:

• Unlawful Data Demand: Advocates argue the USDA’s request violates privacy laws.
• Federal Overreach: Concerns about the federal government circumventing states’ data control.
• Surveillance Risk: Fears of unprecedented government surveillance of food assistance recipients.

Contact Jude Joffe-Block, Ximena Bustillo, and Stephen Fowler if you have information to share about SNAP and data access.

Tags: USDA, Food Assistance, Privacy, SNAP, Data Security