Attorney General Ellison joined a coalition of 23 other states and DC to sue the Trump administration over a policy that would allow the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to share sensitive TANF recipient data with other federal agencies. The lawsuit argues the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause, and seeks to block its implementation.
The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring ACF's policy illegal and preventing it from being implemented.
In-house legal teams should review any contracts with government agencies or that involve handling of sensitive personal data, particularly data related to social services like TANF. They should ensure that data sharing clauses are strictly limited to authorized purposes and that any disclosure to third parties or other government entities requires explicit consent or legal authority. Additionally, contracts should include robust confidentiality and data security provisions, and should specify that data cannot be used for immigration enforcement or other unrelated purposes. Reviewing data processing agreements and ensuring compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional spending clause limitations is also advisable.
Entity
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
Industry
Other"the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued a notice"
"violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution"
"illegal sharing of millions of TANF recipients’ private data"
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, joined by a coalition of 23 other states, the District of Columbia, and two governors, sued the Trump administration to block a new policy by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that would allow federal officials to access private records of millions of TANF recipients. The coalition argues the policy illegally shares sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers and immigration status, with other federal agencies and private organizations, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause. The lawsuit seeks to declare the policy illegal and block it from taking effect.
The Minnesota Attorney General issued an alert urging Medicare beneficiaries to review coverage options after insurers reduced or discontinued Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota. The release describes no privacy enforcement action, monetary penalty, or remedy.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting New York’s authority to pursue a civil fraud case against Donald Trump and his business associates. The brief was filed in an appeal; the press release does not report a ruling, penalty, or remedy, and does not describe a privacy enforcement action.
$7.1M
A bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general settled allegations that General Motors collected and sold drivers’ driving-behavior and location data to data brokers, whose customers included insurance companies. GM will pay $220 million nationally, with Minnesota receiving $7,095,664, and must obtain affirmative express consent before collecting or disclosing driving and location data.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a multistate coalition suing to block a FinCEN rule that exempted nearly all businesses from Corporate Transparency Act reporting and announced that it would delete existing ownership information. The coalition alleges violations of federal law and asks the court to invalidate the rule and require FinCEN to continue collecting and maintaining the database; no penalty or court order is reported.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led a coalition of 17 attorneys general in an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit challenging the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals. The coalition asked the appeals court to reverse a lower court decision and block the revocation; this press release describes no privacy-related allegation, penalty, or remedy imposed.