New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for demanding that states turn over sensitive personal information of SNAP recipients, including Social Security numbers and addresses. The lawsuit argues that this demand violates federal privacy laws and the Constitution, as the data is protected and should only be used for program administration. The coalition seeks to block USDA from conditioning SNAP funding on compliance with this demand.
The lawsuit asks the court to declare USDA's data demands unlawful and to block the agency from withholding SNAP funding if states do not comply.
In-house legal teams should review all federal grant agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and data-sharing contracts between state agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), particularly those governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Focus on clauses related to data sharing, purpose limitation, data security, breach notification, and conditions of funding. Specific attention is needed for any provisions that allow USDA to demand recipient data beyond what is strictly necessary for program administration. Teams should consider amending agreements to require explicit statutory authority for data demands, mandate data minimization, strengthen consent mechanisms for secondary uses, and include audit rights to ensure compliance with federal privacy laws. Contracts should also clarify that funding cannot be conditioned on unlawful data disclosures and establish clear protocols for responding to overbroad requests.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Also known as: USDA
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-platkin-joins-lawsuit-challenging-trump-administrations-illegal-demands-that-states-hand-over-sensitive-personal-data-of-snap-recipients/
2025 0728 USDA Lawsuit
https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-0728_USDA_Lawsuit.pdf
New Jersey Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-consumer-affairs/
"U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)"
"violates multiple federal privacy laws"
"violate the Spending Clause"
"demand that states turn over personal and sensitive information about millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients"
"USDA’s actions are unprecedented, threaten the privacy of millions of families, and ignore long-standing restrictions on the use and redisclosure of SNAP data."
Consumer protection and civil rights lawsuit filed by Oregon AG and 20 other states against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over unlawful funding conditions that coerce states into complying with policies unrelated to nutrition programs. The conditions relate to immigration, DEI, and gender identity, and are alleged to violate the Spending Clause and Administrative Procedure Act. The suit seeks to block these conditions to protect billions in funding for programs like SNAP, WIC, and school lunches that serve vulnerable populations.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court blocking the Trump Administration's USDA from cutting off SNAP funding to states that refuse to turn over personal data of SNAP applicants and recipients. The court found USDA's proposed data protocol unlawful because it allowed sharing data with entities unrelated to federal benefits administration.
Attorney General Raoul secured a court order preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture from collecting SNAP applicants' and recipients' personal data without an agreed-upon protocol that restricts sharing with unrelated entities like the Department of Homeland Security. The court found that the USDA's proposed protocol would violate federal law by allowing data use for immigration enforcement, contrary to the intended purpose of SNAP.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a second preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California blocking the Trump Administration's demand that states turn over personal data of SNAP applicants and recipients. The court found the USDA's proposed data protocol would allow sharing of state data with entities unrelated to federal benefits administration, violating federal law.
Consumer protection case where Oregon AG Dan Rayfield led a multi-state lawsuit to block USDA guidance that unlawfully restricts SNAP eligibility for legal immigrants, arguing it contradicts federal law and could cause wrongful benefit terminations.
Attorney General William Tong is seeking a preliminary injunction to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from forcing states to share private data of SNAP participants, including social security numbers and shopping history. USDA is threatening to cut off administrative funding if states do not comply, which AG Tong argues violates federal privacy laws and the Constitution.