The Trump administration is reportedly threatening to withhold funding from several Democratic-led states unless they comply with a request for recipient data related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap). The agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, stated that the USDA needs this data to "root out fraud" and protect American taxpayers.
Twenty-nine states, predominantly those considered "red," have agreed to provide the requested information, while 21 states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, have refused. According to Rollins, if these blue states do not comply, federal funds will be suspended starting next week.
The USDA has established a Snap integrity team to analyze data provided by states, as well as scrub all available information, in an effort to curb indiscriminate welfare fraud. However, Democrats are criticizing this approach, arguing that it targets legitimate recipients of the program and could lead to more people going hungry.
In July, over a dozen Democratic senators wrote to Rollins, warning that the administration's plan was an "unlawful privacy violation." The latest announcement has sparked renewed criticism from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Democrats on the House agriculture committee, who say Trump is using hunger as a weapon.
According to Snap data, nearly 42 million people relied on the program in fiscal year 2024, with 67% being children, elderly adults, or adults with disabilities. The USDA's own reports indicate that the majority of Snap benefits are used for intended purposes, with only a small percentage being disqualified or fined.
The Trump administration's actions have been described as "corrupt" and "lawless," with some critics accusing Rollins of lying about the effectiveness of the program. The plan to withhold funding from states that do not comply raises concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations and the need for more targeted solutions to address welfare fraud.
Twenty-nine states, predominantly those considered "red," have agreed to provide the requested information, while 21 states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, have refused. According to Rollins, if these blue states do not comply, federal funds will be suspended starting next week.
The USDA has established a Snap integrity team to analyze data provided by states, as well as scrub all available information, in an effort to curb indiscriminate welfare fraud. However, Democrats are criticizing this approach, arguing that it targets legitimate recipients of the program and could lead to more people going hungry.
In July, over a dozen Democratic senators wrote to Rollins, warning that the administration's plan was an "unlawful privacy violation." The latest announcement has sparked renewed criticism from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Democrats on the House agriculture committee, who say Trump is using hunger as a weapon.
According to Snap data, nearly 42 million people relied on the program in fiscal year 2024, with 67% being children, elderly adults, or adults with disabilities. The USDA's own reports indicate that the majority of Snap benefits are used for intended purposes, with only a small percentage being disqualified or fined.
The Trump administration's actions have been described as "corrupt" and "lawless," with some critics accusing Rollins of lying about the effectiveness of the program. The plan to withhold funding from states that do not comply raises concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations and the need for more targeted solutions to address welfare fraud.
This is just another example of Trump's "tough guy" attitude towards people who are struggling. Newsflash, America: if you're hungry, it's not because someone else is wasting benefits, it's because you're low-income and can't afford food.
It's like they think hungry people are just "fraud" waiting to happen... meanwhile, the real villains are the corporations and banks that get away with tax evasion and exploiting loopholes.
I mean, come on, is this really what we're doing with our time? A bunch of politicians threatening to take away food from people who genuinely need it just because they don't want to share some data? 
And what's with the "rooting out fraud" nonsense? Sounds like a bad 90s cop show to me 
. The fact that we need a "Snap integrity team" just to scrub data is basically admitting that we have no idea how to run our own programs. 
I mean, think about it... this whole thing is like a big lesson in why we gotta protect people's personal info 
. It's easy to get caught up in the drama of politicians trying to "root out" fraud, but at the end of the day, we're just talking about innocent people who need help getting by. And what happens when they don't have that help? People go hungry, fam 
. It's not even about politics; it's about basic human decency. We gotta remember that just because someone is receiving benefits doesn't mean they're not deserving of dignity and respect. And I think we can all agree that if we wanna make real progress on tackling welfare fraud, we need to find ways that don't target the people who are already struggling 
. Maybe it's time for some creative problem-solving instead of just cutting off funding? 
. And let's be real, who really thinks this is going to stop welfare fraud? It's like trying to hold water in your hands, it's never gonna stick 
. We need targeted solutions not knee-jerk reactions. This whole thing reeks of politics and desperation 
. The fact that states are being forced to choose between complying or losing funding is just plain shady 
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and meanwhile, we got millions of ppl counting on snap to get by... think about the consequences if they pull this funding 
anyway, i think it's low-key genius on his part - if people are worried about their benefits being taken away, they'll probably just work harder or something 
. 29 states are cool, but 21? That's a lotta ppl goin' hungry 'cause of politics 
. I mean, if the USDA really wants to root out fraud, they should be lookin' at all levels, not just the states that agree to give up their data 
It's like they're tryin' to use people's desperation against 'em. The majority of SNAP benefits are used for good, so why make it all about bein' "lawless" and "corrupt"? 
We should be helpin' the most vulnerable, not makin' it harder for 'em.
Let's focus on solutions that work, not just more drama and games 
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Trump administration! They're really using hunger as a weapon, threatening to take away food from people who need it most just to "root out" some alleged fake recipients. Like, what's the point of that? 
. The USDA can do so much better than this. Why not invest in programs that actually help people get back on their feet? Instead of just cutting funding for states that don't play along. This is like a recipe for disaster – vulnerable populations will suffer the most, and who's going to be left to pick up the pieces?