Judge blocks feds from tying funding to food stamp data

Source: Courthouse News Service

September 19, 2025


SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A federal judge Thursday temporarily blocked the government from withholding funding from states that refuse to provide the personal information of people who receive food stamps.

U.S. Senior District Judge Maxine Chesney granted a temporary restraining order to all but one state suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its demand that states turn over certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) records to the government.

“The court finds plaintiff states are likely to show the SNAP Act prohibits them from disclosing to USDA the information demanded in the formal warnings and, consequently, that they have shown a likelihood of success on their claim that USDA, in making such demand, acted in a manner contrary to law,” the Bill Clinton appointee said in her order.

The only state not included in the relief is Nevada, which Chesney said did not file a declaration explaining that withholding SNAP funds would hinder its ability to administer benefits to individuals like the other plaintiff states. She added that the USDA provided evidence that Nevada “had fully complied with USDA’s request for SNAP data” as of Aug. 12.

Read more: https://courthousenews.com/judge-blocks-feds-from-tying-funding-to-food-stamp-data/