Federal Judge Blocks Trump SNAP Data Demand

A federal judge in San Francisco ruled tentatively on Friday that the Trump administration cannot compel states to submit detailed records on applicants and recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney's decision extends a prior injunction she issued last year, following a lawsuit by 22 states challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's demand for the information, which includes individuals' immigration status.

The dispute stems from the Agriculture Department's efforts to gather data it says is essential for identifying and reducing fraud in SNAP, the nation's largest food assistance program serving about 42 million people, or roughly one in eight Americans, to help purchase groceries. Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for benefits under federal law. The states contended that providing such details could lead to the information being shared with immigration enforcement agencies, potentially violating privacy protections and eligibility rules.

Despite Chesney's initial block, the department persisted. In December, it notified states that failure to comply would result in the withholding of federal...